A horde of rally enthusiasts filled the stages as the 2016 National Rally season got off to an exciting start last weekend.
The highly anticipated event saw all crews initiate their season targets.
The rally got off proper with a Super Special stage at the Pine Ridge circuit in Masaka and Duncan Mubiru took the day’s bragging rights with a four seconds lead over Kuku Ranjeet and Ronald Sebuguzi.
The tension for better positions extended to parts of Mbarara and Kiruhura on Sunday.
Ronald Sebuguzi who had Leon Senyange calling the notes was dominant winning four out of five stages. And with that came the victory and an early championship lead.
Kuku Ranjeet aimed for a podium and he got it. He posted the second fastest time that assured him of 75 points in the NRC standings.
Christakis Fitidis gave his newly acquired Mistubishi Evo X a good start as he completed the podium places.
Ponsiano Lwakataka did not disappoint on his return after three years.
The Mafu Mafu driver finished fourth overall in his Subaru N8. He was happier though to end the event with a stage win.
Godfrey Lubega and Hassan Alwi finished fifth and sixth overall respectively.
The event claimed causalities of its own.
Day one leader Duncan Mubiru was out less than 20kilometres into the opening stage.
Reigning NRC champion Arthur Blick Jnr’s attempts to kick start his title defence were drained in stage four after he suffered suspension trouble.
A failing fuel pump put an end to Jas Mangat’s race while Andrew Desh Kananura was disqualified for diverting from official rally route.
Musa Kabega, Godfrey Nsamba, Ahmed Ashiraf among others suffered misfortunes on Sunday.
The two day event had 20 finishers.
The next event is the Kabale Rally on the 25th-28th of March.