The Gorillas in the Mist Rally (Kabale Rally) is one event that has proven to have unique features from other National Rally Championship rounds.
The event made the highlight in 2016 NRC having ushered in totally different stage set-ups.
From giving the fans an opportunity to explore the scenic parts of Kigezi as they searched for viewing points to giving new challenges to drivers.
For the first time, an event was organised on high altitudes; a rarity in local rally.
The composition of stages consists of routes curling on Kigezi hills which are a mix of narrow, rough, fast surfaces going into tight bends, a number of hairpins among others.
It wont be any different this year.
Kawowo Sports reached out to some drivers who shared their opinions on the Kabale Rally stages.
Omar Mayanja who was among the victims of Kabale Rally stages having rolled from a cliff into a tea plantation, goes into the second edition with a more cautious strategy.
“The stages are the twisty ascents and descents around unbridled hair pin bends. The chances of coming back from an off Road excursion are next to none.”
“So extra caution is a necessity. We will still be fast in the fast places, but slower where it’s slow, no slide shows or cutting corners,” he says in his blog post on rallyuganda.blogspot.ug.
The 2015 NRC champion, Arthur Blick Jr sees the stages as a challenge to both drivers and the machines.
“The Kabale stages are definitely going to be challenging to both the man and machine.”
“The stages are so technical which forces some drivers to cut on their speeds. But personally I liked the routes and I am looking forward to them this year.”
Blick further expressed his disappointment about the exclusion of the Hinsensero stage from this year’s itinerary.
“I know most Evo drivers called for the stage to be removed. It was so technical for everyone. It’s so bad for me since it was one of my best stages last year,” he said.
Musa Nsubuga, who will debuting in Kabale with his driver Kuku Ranjit thinks the stages are naturally designed to test the co-drivers expertise.
“Have gone through the stages, they are so fast, tight, tricky and so challenging generally,” he explains.
“The stages will make the co-drivers busy through out the event since they are so deceptive and have so many notes to call out.”
“And besides, they will determine how good a co-driver is. Once you go off, if one is not so attentive and quick, it might take you some time to get back to your last note since they are almost the same,” he asserted.
Kabale Rally will have six stages; two stages will be repeated thrice. The rally will cover a total distance of 208 kilometers.
Gorillas in the Mist Rally Stages
1. Desh Kananura 12.00km
2. Ambrose Byona 12.63km
3. Kabale stadium 1.8km
4. Kitagata 27.89km
5. VOK 12.96km
6. Katuna 29.63km
Ambrose Byona and Kabale stadium will be repeated thrice while Kananura, Kitagata and VOK repeated twice.