Skoda in the spotlight

KAMPALA. A year is a long time in every aspect of life.
For Ugandan motorsport fans, it must feel like last year’s Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally happened yesterday.
While the dust has since settled, the memories haven’t faded. Many can still envision the dominance of Kenya’s Manvir Baryan. The whisper of his ‘tiny’ Skoda Fabia 5 is fresh.
That orange and blue monster is here again as the fifth round of National and Africa Rally Championship (NRC & ARC) enters Day Two today in Kayunga District.
Manvir hasn’t changed since winning eight of the 10 sections for an eventual victory margin of nine minutes and 51 seconds. In fact, he returns with an enhanced reputation. The 36-year old is now an African champion and also became the first foreign driver to win the South African leg of the ARC earlier this year.
Uganda offered him a springboard, upon which he crushed fields in Tanzania and Rwanda before wrapping up the continental title in Zambia.
With all that respect earned, all local drivers will want to beat him.
“The sections are short and fast. It will favour the Skoda,” former Ugandan champion Arthur Blick Junior noted. Crews that survived yesterday’s Super Special Stage in Busiika will start today’s leg with the 19.5km Kitwe stage, the shortest of the four competitive sections that await.
During their route recee done during sunny weather, drivers have reported that this is a long stretch that narrows in some places and has few slow turns. The 26-kilometer Shekar Metha section then takes them through the sugar plantation. A very smooth and fast 25km Lwasa section. The 31.29km ADEL section is the longest in a trail of farm land.
All four sections will be repeated before the flying finish where Uganda’s biggest hopes will be pinned on 2016 national champion and 2018 NRC leader Jas Mangat.
Favourite Manvir is up against history, too, as only Charlie Lubega (2003/4) and Riyaz Kurji (2005/6) have picked back-to-back victories.

AFRICA RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
CURRENT STANDINGS
Manvir Baryan 50 points
Piero Cannobio 29
NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
1.Jas Mangat 200 points
2. Unisan Bakunda 194pts
3. Kepher Walubi 180pts
4. Suzan Muwonge 170pts
5. Ronald Ssebuguzi 150pts
PROVISIONAL START LIST
1. Jas Mangat/ Joseph Kamya (Mitsubishi Evo X)
2. Manvir Baryan / Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia)
3. Christakis Fitidis/ Eric Nzamwita (Mitsubishi Evo X)
4. Unissan Bakunda /Umar Kakande (Mitsubishi Evo IV)
5. Hassan Alwi Jr. /Enoch Olinga (Subaru N14)
6. Ronald Ssebuguzi/ Leon Ssenyange (Mitsubishi Evo X )
7. Arthur Blick Jr/ Noella Blick (Mitsubishi Evo X)
8. Duncan Mubiru / Musa Nsubuga (Subaru GVB)
9. Omar Mayanja/ Hussein Mukuye (Mitsubishi Evo X)
10. Susan Muwonge /Edmond Kyeyune (Subaru N12B)
11. Piero Canobbio /Silvia Frigo (Mitsubishi Evo X)