Muwonge ready for the battle
Jul 20, 2018
The drivers will show case in the spectator’s stage in Luweero district at the Uganda Motorsport Arena Busiika before heading to Kayunga for day two.
PIC: Susan Muwonge in action. (Credit: Johnson Were)
RALLY
Today in Kayunga
8 competitive stages
CS2: Kitwe 19.95km
CS3: Shekhar Mehta 26.46km
CS4: Lwasa 25.97
CS5: A.D.E.L:31.3km
ARC Standings:
1.Manvir Baryan 50pts
2.Pierro Cannobio 29
3.Gary Chaynes 25
10.Jas Mangat 15 pts
Top 5 on NRC standings
1. Jas Mangat 200pts
2. Unisan Bakunda 194
3. Kephar Walubi 180
4. Suzan Muwonge 174
5. Ronald Ssebuguzi 150
6. Christakis Fitidis 140
Starting list
1.Jas Mangat
2.Manvir Baryan
3.Christakis Fitidis
4.Unisan Bakunda
5.Fred Wapamba
6.Kephar Walubi
7.Suzan Muwonge
8 Ronald Ssebuguzi
9.Duncan Mubiru
10.Omar Mayanja
KAYUNGA - Female rally driver, Suzan Muwonge is ready for the fight with men in the 20 edition of the Pearl of Africa Uganda rally.
The 2011 national rally champion and the 2011 USPA rally driver of the year said," We are ready. We have ever been in the top five in the previous events but we are targeting a better result this year."
The event fueled by Shell V-power attracted only two foreign crews, Manvir Baryan and Piero Canobbio both from Kenya.
The drivers will this Friday show case in the spectator's stage in Luweero district at the Uganda Motorsport Arena Busiika before heading to Kayunga for day two.
Defending champion, Baryan from Kenya navigated British national Drew Sturrock in Skoda Fabia R5 start in the second position chasing Jas Mangat who is leading the National rally championship (NRC) table with 200 points.
Baryan who is also the defending Champion of the Africa Rally Championship(ARC) is the favourite to win this event, but will face stiff challenge from 2003 Pearl rally winner, Mangat navigated by Joseph Kamya in a Mitsubishi Evo10.
Suzan Muwonge (centre) talks to her Navigator Edmond Kyeyune as Leon Ssenyange Ronald Ssebuguzi navigator (right) looks on. (Credit: Johnson Were)
Mangat opens the route and his experience with the Uganda terrain and times he has opened route is proff he can handle pressure from the crews that will be chasing him.
NRC defending champion, Christakis Fitidis has also vowed to defy age and challenge the men for the top finish.
"The car is ready and am fit. Let us see how it goes but we are targeting top three finish," the 66 year-old navigated by Eric Nzamwita from Rwanda said.
However, focused on the same win is three time NRC champion Ronald Ssebuguzi, 2015 NRC champion Arthur Blick Jr, Omar Mayanja and the 2011 NRC champion Suzan Super Lady Muwonge.
Pierro Cannobio, Rauf Adam, Unisan Bakunda, Kephar Walubi, Fred Wapamba, Duncan Mubiru and the OiLibya ambassador Dr. Ashraf Ahmed are the other drivers.
The 210km event will tomorrow head to Kayunga where drivers will battle it in the eight competitive stages of Kitwe 19.95km, Shekhar Mehta 26.46km, Lwasa 25.97, A.D.E.L:31.3km to be repeated.