Do Uganda drivers really know the regulations? Do they even mind about their safety? Do their officials follow these rules?
Those were the questions left for the Safari Rally technical officials about the Ugandan crews that took part last weekend’s rally.
It all started after scrutineering on Thursday when the technical officials spotted loopholes with the Uganda’s cars and technical qualities during scrutineering and rally.
“That Subaru N14 car had outdated safety belt system of four points instead of six points. That system was stopped over six years ago.
“In fact the car already had a provision for the other two points but I guess the crew were clueless of the safety rules since they said it’s how they have used it back home,” Musa Locho who was among the technical team from Kenya explained.
“Another car, the Evo X had its fire extinguisher secured with fibre belts instead of metallic quick safety locks.
“That was something so dangerous for the crew because the extinguisher could easily fall off while racing and you can imagine what can happen,” he added.
FIA technical delegate Chris Birkin from South Africa urged the Uganda fraternity to follow the rules for their own safety.
“Ugandans need to do some homework on the regulations and need to make sure the cars are comfortable.”
“One crew had the safety harness under his HANS devices yet it should be running over. This showed a lot of homework should be done among the Ugandan officials as well,” said Birkin.
Birkin is expected to be the FIA Technical Official for the Pearl of Africa Rally in June.
“I am already assigned for the Pearl Rally. I just hope I don’t find many surprises of the kind,” he said.
On the final day of the event, the rally official witnessed more drama as the crews left the morning parc ferme into service.
Enoch Olinga, navigator to Hassan Alwi insisted on driving the crew’s Subaru into service park without the driver. They had been scheduled to leave the parc ferme at 6:39am.
The officials just looked on at the disturbed Olinga until his driver showed up more than eight minutes later.
More drama ensured as the crew of Christakis Fitidis and Eric Nzamwita could not find their time card on Saturday morning.
Their car was put aside as Nzamwita rushed back to his hotel in an attempt to find the time card. It was discovered under the rally car seat. Still Christakis had to wait for Nzamwita before they could leave the parc ferme.
And earlier, Duncan Mubiru who was already devastated by the day one penalty of ten minutes had made a decision not to continue with the rally.
He was eventually convinced to resume but opted to take a different route out to service despite being given the proper directions by the officials.
All this happened in the sight of the officials who were left perplexed by the incidents.
“Your drivers are not serious at all, there are steps you cannot just forget in rallying and that means they do not either know the regulations or they just don’t read them,” said Locho.