NRC title decider set for Jinja next month
Current NRC leader Mangat may not have the luxury of engaging flying gears because of a an anticipated slippery route in Jinja this weekend. PHOTO BY JB SSENKUBUGE
KAMPALA- Jas Mangat must have his cake and eat it too. There is no two ways about it.
The two-time (2012, 2013) National Rally Championship (NRC) winner will enter into the cockpit of his Mitsubishi Evo.X baptised ‘Ekisodde’ by the rally fraternity, vividly knowing that there is no shortcut to this year’s ‘Holy Grail’.
Only victory will do in the year’s last event – the Mosac Rally slated for November 18-20 in Jinja.
Mangat last competed in the Umospoc Challenge Rally in Masindi which ended controversially, although he was tentatively awarded full points - 100 – for finishing first.
And having opted out of the Pearl Rally, won by NRC race leader Hassan Alwi because of business engagements, Mangat is desperate to compete in the Jinja event to make up for having not scored in the Tanzania Rally in July.
Alwi progressed to win the Pearl Rally for a haul of 140 points. That elevated the Subaru Impreza N14 driver to 469 points, 69 more than second-placed Mangat thus making the Jinja event a decider.
The mathematics is easy for Mangat, who has to grit his teeth for at least a second-place finish worth 75 points to dethrone Alwi, who has enjoyed a purple patch this season.
Alwi navigated by Eric Olinga, is undoubtedly the most inform and consistent driver this term having scored in each event he has participated in and matched the pair Ronald Ssebuguzi and Leon Ssenyange in the two sprints he has competed in after the Pearl.
Alwi, though, will not score any points in the Jinja event if he opts to drive after he substituted it with an appearance in the Rwanda Rally last August.
Alwi picked up 85 points to wrap up his scoring season. Every driver is only allowed to score in six events which count towards the NRC.
Shafiq Matovu, the clerk of the course, said a new format will be used during the season - ender.
“We shall open with two competitive sections (CS) Buwenge (23km) and Kagoma Gate (10km) on Saturday morning before the drivers embark on Super Special Stage (SSS) at Jinja Agricultural Show Ground in the afternoon,” he explained.
The event will have as total of 283km of which 145 is competitive.
