The battle for supremacy in the 2013 Shell VPower Pearl of Africa Rally starts today with a Super Special Sprint at Lubiri as 43 drivers compete over two runs in reverse order on day one before a battle in eight competitive sections totaling 221 kilometres with 220 kilometres of road sections in Luwero gets underway on Saturday.
Favourites Jas Mangat and Muhammad Essa are set to start as number one and two followed by Ronald Ssebuguzi in third.
Mangat, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer EVOX leads both the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) and National Rally Championship (NRC) and is eight points (58) ahead of second placed Essa (50) in the ARC will be looking for a double this year.
“I don’t think I have too much pressure because I only need to finish as I did in the Safari rally.” said Mangat, who badly needs points to maintain his lead in the ARC.
However, the biggest challenge will be posed by Essa set to be flagged off behind him in Subaru Impreza N16 and the Zambian feels confident on winning the event like he did last year.
“Being the champion means I can win again and my target is to overhaul Mangat’s ARC lead”, he confidently asserts.
Ronald Ssebuguzi (EvoIX), Jassy Singh (Zambia, Subaru N10), Carl Tundo (Kenya, EVOIX), Arthur Blick Jnr (Subaru), Giancarlo Davite (Rwanda, EVOX), Christakis Fitidis (Subaru N12), Ponsiano Lwakataka (Subaru N8) and Frank Tundo (EVOIX) complete the top ten.
The event is officially sponsored by Shell with co-sponsors Silver Springs Hotel, Fire and Safety Appliances Ltd and Coca Cola.
