Rally drivers turn up heat on FMU

Jun 05, 2013

FEDERATION of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) chopped points from Ponsiano Lwakataka (60), Mubiru (50) and Fitidis (45) for skipping a control in the service park

By Douglas Mazune

National Rally Championship standings

Jas Mangat 285 points

Ronald Ssebuguza 236 points

Arthur Blick 177 points

Duncan Mubiru 166 points

Christakis Fitidis 116 points

THE battle for the 2013 National Rally Championship has shifted from the track to the boardroom as Christakis Fitidis and Duncan Mubiru reject a controversial decision to exclude them from the Freedom City Rally.

Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) chopped points from Ponsiano Lwakataka (60), Mubiru (50) and Fitidis (45) for skipping a control in the service park - a punishment that was handed out two months after the race.

“You just don’t wake up and decide to slash somebody’s points without even giving them a right to be heard. Are they aware we were instructed by an FMU official to do what we did? We complied after a long argument with him. We shall fight for our points to the highest level possible,” Mubiru told New Vision Sport. 

Fitidis and Mubiru wondered why FMU which set out to probe allegations that Lwakataka used two time cards in the same rally instead came out with a decision which was not part of Omar Mayanja petition.

Lwakataka said he would not appeal against the decision because he was no longer interested in the national championship.

“I won the case against me and they created another one that was never reported. I sympathise with Duncan and Fitidis who are suffering because of me,” Lwakataka laughed off the decision.

FMU general secretary Reynolds Kibira said he does not expect drivers to appeal before receiving official communication.

“FMU wasn’t working out of its mandate. The petition also alleged that car 32 (Lwakataka) had not reported to certain controls. Car No.32 (Lwakataka) was disqualified from the race for tampering with the time card and missing a passage on another incident. Unfortunately Mubiru and Fitidis were caught by the same rule of deviating from the route. They went into service before regroup which meant they had created their own route which is automatic exclusion,” Kibira explained.

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