FMU bruised, battered after another event mishap
KAMPALA.
Once again motorsport and controversy cannot be separated. For the second time in three years, the Mountains of the Moon Rally in Fort Portal ended in bizarre fashion.
The drivers, officials and fans kept wondering whether the crew of Omar Mayanja and Husssien Mukuye, who cruised an Evo X, should not have been disqualified on Day One.
For pair crossed the tape after clocking 1.35:32 to finish third overall and retain interest in the National Rally Championship (NRC) title race.
Currently the Mayanja-Mukuye crew are jointly fourth with Duncan Mubiru/George Ssemakula on 160 points, 90 behind the leader Ronald Ssebuguzi/Leon Ssenyange.
Such a log shows that the NRC is well-poised and with three events to go on the calendar and 340 points to contest for, it will be photo finish in the race to see who will win this year’s title.
The beginning & rules
The controversy or confusion, in whatever way one might refer to it, stems from the Super Special Stage (SSS) or Spectator Stage on Day One when Mayanja’s Evo X came to a halt following an accident.
His car could not move following a suspension problem and the breakdown vehicle could not help either as it was left to a car carrier to come to his aid.
It was what the organisers did at that stage and after that it was down to the interpretation of the rules.
According to article 12.5 of supplementary regulations of the event and article 14.7 of the 2017 national competition rules states: if a car fails to complete a super special stage or spectator stage, it will be placed at the road section after the finish control of the supper special stage and the crew will be allocated a stage time of the fastest time of that stage i.e CS1A or CS1B plus five minutes. In this case, only one run was done by the crew. The unfortunate incident to Mayanja got everyone talking after it emerged that he would later compete and rake a podium finish.
Proof or no proof
The million dollar question is; Did Joshua Mayanja, the clerk of the course (CoC), apply the rules or he deliberately ignored them when he allowed all the cars to move in convoy from moving Parc Ferme (cars resting place) to the Service Park. Was this where the loop hole was in the regulations? It all comes down to the interpretation of rules.
In the Service Park, Mayanja’s Evo X was reportedly seen to be repaired while still on the carrier which also contravenes the rules.
But Mayanja denies and insists that what is being said are mere allegations. In our custody though, we have images showing the bonnet of the Evo X open while the car was still on the carrier.
“I know the rules, there is no way I would have allowed my mechanics to repair the car while it was still on the carrier,” Mayanja told this reporter.
Mayanja, the driver in the spotlight went on; “People are just being petty. “The intention of these rules is to keep the cars in competitions. I was given a five- minute penalty plus Duncan ( Mubiru) fastest time in the first run which was 2.27 minutes which comes down to 7:27 and moved on,” he clarified.
Organisers ideology
The clerk of the course maintains he followed the rules as stipulated to the script. “The breakdown could not tow the car and we had to find means of moving the car from the section,” Mayanja, the clerk of the course, explains.
“After the cancellation of the second run, following the delay in removing Mayanja car, there was confusion and as organisers we had to act. The car carrier was in order as we (organisers) requested for it.”
But Christakis Fitidis thinks otherwise. He opines that the rules are always clear and should always be used as they are and not twisted to favour some drivers.
“You cannot apply rules selectively, whether it is Fitidis, Ssebuguzi (Ronald) or Omar (Mayanja). Rules should be applied to all.”
Kisitu Mayanja, who was the club steward, chipped in to the matter and enlightens that the SSS or Spectator Stage is put in place to primarily entertain.
“That’s why when you abort a run, you are given a penalty and allowed to repair your car and join the event the next day if the event is for two days.”
And with the local motorsport fraternity seeking clearer answers, FMU do still have a darkening cloud still hovering them and they must act quick.
The time is now for them to educate the masses about the rules, their application and also be transparent to the drivers who are the real stakeholders of the sport.
FORT PORTAL RALLY final Top ten
H Alwi/ J. Kamya (Subaru N14) 01:30:46
F. Wampamba/ P.Musaazi (SubaruN10) 01:35:06
O. Mayanja/ H. Mukuye (Evo X) 01:35:32
C. Fitidis/ E. Nzamwita (Evo X) 01:36:28
K. Ranjit/ M. Nsubuga (Evo X) 01:4047
U. Bakunda /U. Kakande (Evo IV) 01:42:38
A. Blick Jr/N. Blick (Subaru N10) 01:43:00
Dr A. Ahmed /R. Muhammed (Subaru N14) 01:43:31
B. Rugomoka/ H. Mawanda (Evo VII) 01:43:55
K. Walubi/ S. Nakalema (Evo X) 01:45:03
