Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Uganda Monitor
Published on 2024-04-12 02:00:00
The fate of the Southern Motor Club (SMC) Masaka rally, a two-day event starting on Saturday, may be heavily influenced by the ongoing rain showers. The second round of the 2024 National Rally Championship (NRC) will take place in the districts of Masaka and Kyotera, where drivers will have to navigate through slippery roads.
Jas Mangat, a three-time national champion, along with co-driver Enoch Olinga in a Hyundai i20, emerged victorious in the season opener in Mbarara. Their success in that race positions them as strong contenders for the championship title.
The upcoming rally will present a challenging opportunity for Mangat/Olinga to solidify their position in the championship standings. However, the unpredictable weather conditions will add an extra layer of complexity to the competition. Olinga expressed uncertainty about how the rain will affect the road conditions and emphasized the need to assess the terrain during the reconnaissance phase before the 228.98km event.
While 31 rally drivers initially entered the competition, Yassin Nasser decided to withdraw from the race after crashing his Ford Fiesta during the World Rally Championship (WRC) Kenya Safari Rally. The participation of Ronald Ssebuguzi, a two-time national champion, is also in question due to health issues caused by conjunctivitis.
In the event that Ssebuguzi is unable to compete, Ponsiano Lwakataka, another former national champion with extensive knowledge of the local roads, is expected to be a formidable contender. Olinga acknowledged Lwakataka’s advantage in familiarity with the terrain, highlighting the competitive nature of the rally.
The rally will span two days, with drivers facing a total of 116.13km on Saturday and an additional 112.85km on Sunday. The cars will undergo scrutineering on Friday to ensure compliance with safety regulations and technical standards.
The competitive distances for the rally are divided into sections: 47.43km and 63.08km, with corresponding transport distances of 68.06km and 49.77km. These metrics provide insight into the challenging nature of the rally routes and the strategic planning required by the drivers and their teams to navigate through the varying terrains.
Overall, the upcoming SMC Masaka rally promises to be a thrilling and unpredictable event, with top drivers vying for supremacy against the backdrop of challenging weather conditions and intense competition. As the drivers prepare to take on the rugged terrain of Masaka and Kyotera, the rally enthusiasts and spectators eagerly anticipate a weekend filled with high-speed action and adrenaline-fueled excitement.
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