Mangat carries nation’s burden
Oilibya’s MD Abdulbari Abdirahman (L) hands over sponsorship to Lugeba’s manager Moses Seguuya. PHOT0 BY JB SSENKUBUGE
Yet to finish an event on the continent this year, Jas Mangat does boast of the CV any local can bank on to deliver victory in the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.
But Mangat, along with Zimbabwean Jamie Whyte and the Rwandan duo of Giancarlo Davite and Fitides Christakis are the only crews eligible for Africa Rally Championship (ARC) points.
From now on, Mangat with only seven points will need a miracle to overhaul ARC leader Whyte (76), 21 ahead of Davite with Christakis in third on 21 points.
Nonetheless, the burden isn’t too big to bear. “The expectation is there but it’s a nice feeling. We have been pretty unlucky in the first two events,” Mangat, who is co-driven by Meganck Olivier, told Daily Monitor after route reccing yesterday.
Adding; “the pace has been there. Two years ago, we have within a chance of winning and were disqualified (for receiving outside assistance) but it was the first time to be in such a situation. We have gained a lot more experience to handle the pressure.”
Mangat acquired Davite’s Subaru N12 last year to upgrade from his old N10. The new scoring system which awards points for winning each day has left Whyte in the frame to defend his crown with victories in Kenya and Tanzania. The latter also won Uganda’s premier event in 2008.
Foreigners Whyte, Kenyan Ben Mukyemi, Christakis and Davite did their reccing at the same time as Mangat. National Rally Championship (NRC) hopefuls Ronald Ssebuguzi and Ponsiano Lwakataka also joined them.
Meanwhile,, Susan Muwonge and Godfrey Lubega received Shs4.2m and Shs12m from Kobil Uganda Limited and OiLibya respectively.
