Mubiru beats Alwi as African title contenders struggle

KAMPALA.

Duncan Mubiru led a Ugandan sweep of the top five positions on Day One of the Shell V-Power Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally at the Motorsport Arena, Busiika.

Kikankane, as he refers to himself, accumulated a combined time of four minutes, 42 seconds and three-tenth of a second to relegate National Rally Championship (NRC) hopeful Hassan Alwi to second.

Alwi’s Mitsubhi Evo. X was nine-tenth of a second slower than Mubiru’s Subaru Impreza with Ronald Ssebuguzi, Arthur Blick Jnr and Andrew ‘Desh’ Kananura completing the top five.

Crucially, Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi Evo. X) has 4.3 seconds to make up on Alwi in a race of the two drivers still within a shot of this year’s NRC title, the other being absentee Jas Mangat.

The 2.18 track, which the drivers went round twice to complete 4.36km of the 443.32km event, proved tough for Africa Rally Championship (ARC) contenders Muna Singh Jnr and Don Smith.

Singh Jnr came behind the Ugandans in sixth, 11.5 seconds behind Mubiru, while ARC standings’ leader Kenyan Smith was a distant 11th with thousands of fans braving the dust.

An African champion will be crowned after Saturday’s Day Two. Smith has 79 points with Singh Jnr, who family boasts 11 continental titles, on 50.

After that Super Special Stage, Alwi, by virtue of his NRC leadership is set to lead the survivors to Mubende.Starting with 24.01km at Kikandwa, the drivers will tackle seven competitive sections.

With the first chance to service cars coming after the second section in the areas of Bakoja, 40.05km, rally drivers will be tested before the sun loses its vitamin D.

“There is over 64km before you get to service, that means cars will be examined for reliability,” rally driver Desh Kananura told Daily Monitor.

“Kikandwa might decide the eventual winner. It’s fast and tricky,” he added after doing his route recce on Wednesday.

After Bakoja, drivers will do Tooro Mpango (46.12km), Old Mubende (5.19km) and Kaweri (41.82km).

“The route is generally good. There is a very nice stretch in a coffee plantation but above of all cocktail of rough,” Leon Ssenyange, Ssebuguzi’s co-driver, said.

Tooro Mpango and the shortest section will be repeated before the final checkered flag is waved for the last time to signal the end.

SHELL V-POWER PEARL OF AFRICA UGANDA RALLY

PROVISIONAL RESULTS – DAY ONE
Duncan Mubiru (Subaru Impreza) 4.42.3
Hassan Alwi (Mitsubishi Evo. X) 4.43.2
Ronald Ssebuguzi (Subaru Impreza) 4.47.5
Arthur Blick Jnr (Subaru Impreza) 4.49.6
Andrew Desh Kananura (Mitsubishi Evo. X) 4.52.1
Muna Singh Jnr (Subaru Impreza) 4.53.8
Ambrose Byona (Mitsubishi Evo. IX) 5.11.5
Ranjit Kuku (Mitsubishi Evo. X) 5.14.3
Fred Wampamba (Subaru Impreza) 5.18.5
Ashraf Ahmed (Subaru Impreza) 5.22.0
Don Smith (Subaru Impreza) 5.25.8