Jas Mangat has properly laid down his season intentions by asserting his proven pace to dominate the motor rally season opener in Mbarara.
In the Hyundai i20 rally2 which he acquired last year, the three-time national champion clearly showed that he is headstrong for a fourth; leading the event from the start to the end.
Mangat manoeuvred through the super special stage in Mbarara city to the delight of the thousands of rally fans who showed up for the spectacle.
The pili-pili driver had Enoch Olinga call the notes. The crew topped six of the seven stages to secure victory with a big margin of nine minutes and 57 seconds.
On top of the victory, Mangat topped the power stage to claim extra points to open up the season’s leaderboard with 60 points.
Jonas Kansiime stayed away from trouble maintaining his second position from leg one to the finish. A third-fastest time in the power stage helped him collect a total 53 points.
Ponsiano Lwakataka survived the mechanical challenges the event threw at him to seal the podium in third place.
Moustapha Mukasa finished fourth with Didas Matsiko completing the top five.
In the Two-wheel drive, Edward Kirumira topped the category followed by Ibrahim Lubega and Samuel Watendwa in second and third respectively.
Under the clubman rally championship, Musa Segaabwe claimed victory followed by Topher Katera and Odeon Tumwebaze in second and third respectively.
The second round of the national rally championship is scheduled for March in Masaka.