Uganda’s Jas Mangat finally ends his Pearl of Africa Rally jinx after he beat the rest of the pack to clinch the 2013 Shell VPower two days event that started with a Super Special Sprint in Lubiri on Friday.
The ARC and NRC leader clocked 02:02:08 a massive six minutes and ten seconds ahead of Kenyan Frank Tundo while Ponsiano Lwakataka earned a podium finish in third.
Super lady Susan Muwonge finished fifth behind Dr. Ashraf Ahmed in fourth and ahead of Zambian Jassy Singh in sixth.
A number of drivers were unable to finish the 425.6 km event with reigning Kenyan champion Carl Tundo who bowed out in the first second on day two joining six-time Kenyan champion, Ian Duncan, former NRC title winner Ronald Ssebuguzi, reigning Africa Rally Champion title holder Essa Muhammad plus Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davit and Jaspreet Chatthe.
The latter trio is also in the running for this year’s ARC crown. The win for Mangat who drove a Mitsubishi Evo9 moved him to 88 points at the top of the ARC standings, extending his lead over Singh to 17 points with two rounds to go while Essa, 50, is third.
He also extended his NRC lead to 435 points leaving his closest challengers Ssebuguzi is on 236 and Arthur Blick Jnr 203.The two didn’t score as they dropped out.
Former rally ace Charles Muhangi is the last Uganda to win the ARC title in 1999. Mangat is on the verge of becoming the first Ugandan driver to clinch a double in case. In the supplementary race, Kenyan Peter Horsey beat Ugandans Omar Mayanja, Peter Wapamba and Ismail Ortega among others.
Final results (top 10):
1.Jas Mangat 02.02.08
2.Frank Tundo 02.08.18
3.Ponsiano Lwakataka 02.16.32
4.Dr. Ashraf Ahmed 02.25.34
5.Susan Muwonge 2.26.19
6.Jassy Singh 2.43.30
7.Satvinder Singh Saini 2.42.46
8.Abdu Ssempebwa 2.43.24
9.Edison Munghereza 2.46.33
10.Jonas Kansiime 2.57.52
11.Musa Muliika 3:11.06
12.Hellen Shiri 3:23.07
Supplementary category:
Peter Horsey 2:22.30
Omar Mayanja 2:25.19
Godfrey Wampamba 2:35.06
Ismail Ortega 2:48.03
Patrick Sebambulidde 3:10.41
Ismail Lule 3:21.14
