Ssebuguzi to hit the road first in Mbale

By Douglas Mazune

Elgon Rally top 8

Ronald Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi Evo9)

Kenneth Mukosa (Subaru N8)

Ponsiano Lwakataka (Subaru N8)

Rehsi Hardeep (Mitsubishi Evo9)

Saini Satvinder (Subaru N12)

Ahmed Ashraff (Subaru N10)

Edson Munghereza (Subaru N4)

Christakis Fitidis (Subaru N10)

ZAMBIAN champion Kenneth Mukosa will chase Ronald Ssebuguzi on road in the OiLibya Mount Elgon Rally this weekend.

Mukosa who will be navigated by Ugandan George Semakula has been rated second among 34 crews and will be flagged off three minutes behind Ssebuguzi who will hit the road first.

Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda (FMU) vice president Katende Mukiibi who conducted the exercise explained that the Zambian champion was faster than many Ugandan drivers according to his stages times.

“He may not have come with his car but we still consider the driver’s performance and not the car. Unless there is a serious safety concern we stick to the driver’s pace,” Katende stated.

The Zambian who will drive a Consta Racing Team Subaru N8 will be chased by Ponsiano Lwakataka also in a Subaru N8.

Ssebuguzi and co-driver Cedric Buzabo who will on Thursday embark on route reccing in Mbale, Sironko and Manafwa districts said they were not afraid to open the way.

Ssebuguzi took first position on road following the absence of national champion Jas Mangat.

Kenyan Hardeep Rehsi in a Mitsubishi Evo9 will be fourth while Satvinder Singh takes off fifth.

Ahmed Ashraf (Subaru N10), Edson Munghereza (Subaru N4) and Christakis Fitidis (Subaru N10) will be sixth, seventh and eighth respectively in the race which has 34 entrants.

The race organized by Motorsport Africa Club (MOSAC) will start with a super special stage at Mbale Municipal Stadium on Friday ahead of the second leg in Sironko and Manafwa on Saturday.