Fitidis leads Uganda assault for Kenya Safari Rally glory

NRC leader Kikankane will start in 34th position in Kenya. PHOTO by Jb Ssenkubuge

What you need to know:

After the withdrawal of Uganda’s leading driver Jas Mangat with co-driver Joseph Kamya following the failure of their new engine to arrive in time, veteran driver Christakis Fitidis with Eric Nzamwite in a Mitsubishi Evo X is expected to be flagged off first in 26th position

KAMPALA.

The 65th Kenya Safari Rally gets under this morning in Kenya capital of Nairobi, with five Ugandan crews taking part in the two day event.

The event is the second leg of the FIA Africa Rally Championship (ARC). The Uganda drivers will begin their quest for the African title. Charles Muhangi and Steven Byaruhanga are only Ugandan crew to have won the title - way back in 1999.

After the withdrawal of Uganda’s leading driver Jas Mangat with co-driver Joseph Kamya following the failure of their new engine to arrive in time, veteran driver Christakis Fitidis with Eric Nzamwite in a Mitsubishi Evo X is expected to be flagged off first in 26th position.

The Kenyan crew of Jaspreet Chatthe/ Gurdeep Panesar in a Mitisibishi Evo X, going for a hat-trick of wins, will be flagged off first to be followed by Baldev Charger (Evo X), winner of the 2014 edition.

Ugandan crews
The other Ugandan crews and their likely starting order are Hassan Alwi/ Enoch Olinga (Subaru N14) in 29th place, Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru/ George Ssemakula (Evo X), in 34th place and Yasin Nasser/ Ali Katumba (Subaru N10) in 36th place.
Kephar Walubi and Susan Nakalema ( EvoX) is expected to leave the ramp in 40th position.

Today the drivers will tackle 84.05km spread over five Competitive sections, which include the 2km stretch at the famous Jamhuri Park.
Tomorrow drivers will brace another four sections totaling 117.49km before the cars head to Afrah Stadium for the finish.

In total the event has 498.67km of which 296.94 km is competitive.
Forty-nine cars will be flagged off this morning for the main rally.

provisional starting order
1. J. Chatthe/ G. Panesar ( Evo X)
26. C. Fitidis/ E. Nzamwite (Evo X)
29. H. Alwi/ E. Oringa (Subaru N14)
34. D. Mubiru/ G.Ssemakula (Evo X)
36. Y. Nasser/ A. Katumba (Subaru N10)
40. K. Walubi/ S. Kalema ( Evo X)