Mangat clinches National Rally Championship

Mangat steers his car during the race in Jinja. Photo by Johnson Were

Jas Mangat emerged triumphant at the MOSAC Rally in Jinja on Sunday to claim the 2016 National Rally Championship (NRC) for the third time.

Mangat navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Mitsubishi Evo 10 beat Kuku Ranjit (Evo10) and  Ambrose Byona who finished second and third respectively.

He posted a time of 1:13:55, four minutes ahead of second placed Ranjit (1:17:01) and Byona (1:19:00).

Mangat who had to win the race to become national champion started in fine form, winning the Super Special stage at the Agricultural Show Ground in a tightly contested Day 1 after he posted a time of 5 minutes and 45 seconds beating second placed Ronald Ssebuguzi (6:05) by 20 seconds.

Mangat was quickly out of the blocks beating rival Hassan Alwi by 13 seconds in first run. He clocked 2:51 while Alwi posted 3:04.

Mangat has now clinched his 3rd title. Photo by Johnson Were

On Sunday, he started on the attack winning all the eight sections of the day.

To clinch to the NRC title Mangat won Mbarara, Kabale and Fort Portal rallies before sealing the title in Jinja.

Challengers Alwi, Ronald Ssebuguzi and Desh Kananura dropped out of the event in the first, third and sixth sections respectively.

"It has been a tight event and we took it right from the beginning. It is good we have won it and I thank the other competitors who have given us tough competition" Mangat stated.