Blick, Chatthe chasing glory
Blick knows he may not have a better second chance to stamp his authority on the log leadership of the NRC. PHOTO BY JB SSENKUBUGE
What you need to know:
Motorsport. In the past 16 years of the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, local and foreign drivers share the wins; eight each. But with just two foreign crews, chances are high that a local will sweep honours
KAMPALA.
One is vying for continental glory while the other is keen on a maiden national championship. But both Jaspreet Chatthe and Arthur Blick know they can achieve their respective goals if they attain victory in this weekend’s 2015 V-Power Pearl of Africa Rally.
Both have shown the consistency required to win a championship with Chatthe leading the African Rally Championship (ARC) after picking the maximum 25 points in three of the five ARC races thus far. “I have been unlucky in the previous events.
But I hope this time round, I will be on the podium,” stated Chatthe early this week. He has failed to complete this rally in three previous attempts.In close pursuit for that title will be Jassy Singh, the 2013 ARC winner, who is also the only other foreign driver that registered for the event.
A victory today will also save Chatthe the strenuous task of having to travel to Madagascar for the final of the seven-round ARC championship after Kenya’s withdrawal.
Back home, there has been similar reliability from Blick and Unisan Bakunda’s Subaru Impreza N10 in the National Rally Championship (NRC). The Shell-sponsored crew have claimed maximum points in three of the four events to date. This includes success at the last event, the Mountains of the Moon Rally in Fort Portal.
They hold a 175-point advantage over second placed John Consta (185) ,whose 75 points from the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla helped him move to second on the NRC standings with 200 points from two races left after today. He and the crew of Omar Mayanja/ Leon Senyange, whose fifth-place finish was the best for any Uganda driver at last year’s event, will be among the chasing pack that also includes Duncan Mubiru .
The event has a total of 759.87km of which 205.87km is competitive. The following day, drivers will negotiate eight Competitive Sections (CS). The longest is Bariho (CS7- 44.23km) while the shortest is Old Mubende Road (CS6- 5.19km).
Vivo Energy, ICEA, Integrated Security Solutions Ltd, City Ambulances, Silver Springs Hotel, Fire and Safety Appliances, Agha Khan Hospital, Swat Security, Balton (U) Ltd, Hima Cement and UPDF are the sponsors.
PROVISIONAL START LIST
1.Arthur Blick Jnr. (Subaru N10)
2.Ronald Ssebuguzi ( EvoX)
3. Jaspreet Singh ( Evo X)
4. Jassy Singh (Subaru N16)
5. John Consta (Evo. 9)
6. Duncan Mubiru (Subaru N16)
7. Polo Pole (Evo VIII)
8. Jas Mangat ( Evo X)
9. Omar Mayanja (Evo V)
