Top five driver standings
Yasin Nasser – 355pts
Ronald Ssebuguzi – 300pts
Arthur Blick – 285pts
Hassan Alwi – 260pts
Christakis Fistidis – 258pts
Petroleum company Total Uganda has contributed towards the crew of Adam Rauf Essa and his navigator Aron Nsamba with a sponsorship package worth Sh31M towards the remaining part of the rally season.
The timely boost comes just days away to the UMOSPOC Kabalega Rally – the penultimate round on the FMU calendar.
Rauf and his navigator Nsamba received the package at Total Wampewo from the managing director Total Uganda Mr Obi Imemba.
“This is big and timely,” started Rauf who rolls an Evo X. “We are targeting a podium finish in Hoima despite only taking part in two competitions including the Pearl of Africa rally and the Fort Portal rally which we didn’t finish.”
“We thank Total for this continued support towards sports and we hope to do our best.”
Imemba said they are privileged to have come into partnership with Rauf and are hence looking at a long one.
Kabalega Rally revs off on Saturday morning with two stages before crews go into a super special stage.
There will be a total of six competitive stages; Kyentale 18.02km, Kikwata Miigo 11.42km, Musaija Mukuru 21.11km, World Wide Movers 26.35km, Bugambe Tea 17.73km and Kitooba 31.52km. A total distance of 303 kilometers will be covered (Competitive – 173.8km, Liaison 129.2km).
In the Two-wheel drive category 28 points separates the current class leader Samuel Watendwa from Fred Ssenkumba who needs to maintain a podium finish to consolidate his position at the top.
A tight contest for podium positions is expected between Watendwa, Fred Senkumba, Sadat Negomba, and Timothy Gawaya.
With over 35 crews registered for the event; only Yasin Nasser, Ronald Sebuguzi and Arthur Blick have a chance on the title,
Yasin Nasser with 355 points, 55points ahead of second-placed Ronald Sebuguzi will see sebuguzi only chance of closing the gap with a podium finish in hoima to stand chances of winning this year’s title.
It will be an action packed weekend for drivers taking part in the Kabalega rally as the routes are all clear apart from a few routes which driver consider being removed due to heavy downpour considering the ongoing construction making them unaccessible.
Fort portal rally organisers had a reverse order form from the usual start orders with the CRC (clubman rally championship) and two-wheel drive (2WD) crews start first in the stages, it won’t be the case in hoima as the start order despite the intention of safety checking as some drivers thought otherwise about it.
Christakis Fitidis is expected to go first on the road as per the 2019 start order.
