IUEA Rally Team of Hassan Alwi and George Mwangi will not take part in the upcoming and decisive Sexy Speed Rally in Jinja, its official.
Alwi confirmed the development in a letter seen by this website addressed to FMU President Dipu Ruparelia.
The team claim that the name ‘Sexy Speed’ rally being promoted and it’s underlying insinuations to women have led to their decision, and doesn’t fit their Institute founding principles/beliefs.
“The IUEA Rally Team withdraws from the 2021 National Rally Championship with deep regrets. The name (Sexy Speed Rally) being promoted for the 2021 Jinja Rally and its underlying insinuations to women have led to this decision as it does not fit our founding principle beliefs,” reads a letter from IUEA Rally team in part.
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“We are disheartened that our team will not get a chance to compete and defend our title. We anticipate a fruitful discussion with the organisers on how to make the rally more inclusive in the future by respecting the beliefs/principles of all participants.”
Its a shocking development for Alwi’s fans given that the Alwi is seated in second place on NRC leaderboard.
Alwi who won the Jinja Rally organised by Eastern Motorclub in March last year, is seated 70 points adrift of Duncan ‘Kikankane’ Mubiru.
Alwi joins other drivers Didas Matsiko and Timothy Gawaya to withdraw their entries.
The event, organised by Motorsport Africa Club (MOSAC), is due November 26-27 in Jinja.
Clerk of Course Shafic Matovu earlier said that the name (Sexy Speed Rally) was adopted just to attract the Youths as they target massive vaccination drive during the event.
The rally has attracted a couple of Sponsors led by Victoria University and Premier Recruitment while Movit, Lato Milk, Fire and Safety Aplliances Limited, and Marine Time Company among others are also on board.
Has Alwi Just Chickened Out?
NRC point standings
- Duncan Mubiru – 350
- Hassan Alwi – 280
- Fred Kitaka – 270
- Omar Mayanja – 260
- Jas Mangat – 180
Many onlookers believe that Alwi chickened out because he had “very few” chances to turn the tables and win the NRC title.
The story has since created a stirring debate across Rally platforms.
Per calculations, Kikankane needs to finish 8th overall to get 35 points and claim the title even if Alwi won the Jinja event.
Others probable contenders are Fred Kitaka who before extending the championship to 2021 due to the Covid19 pandemic that swept through 2020 with no sports activity, Omar Mayanja and Jas Mangat.
Drawing comparisons to previous events before covid19, Alwi has closely tried to put up competition against the sports top boys, but has by percentage not been able to humble them on a good day for all.
Starting with season opener in 2020 in Mbarara, Mubiru won the event, Fred Kitaka came in second as Omar Mayanja sealed the podium slots.
Second NRC hosted in Jinja, Alwi won it, Ponsiano Lwakataka finished second, and Arthur Blick Jnr third. Retirees of that rally included Mubiru, Ronald Ssebuguzi, Godfrey Lubega, and Yasin Nasser as were other favorites of the event.
On resumption of sport from covid lockdown in April 2021, at an event hosted in Ssembabule, Mubiru emerged victor after a one-year rusty sabbatical, Mangat was second and Alwi third.
NRC4 held in Kasanda, Mangat won,Mubiru came in second and rookie driver Rajiv Ruparelia got his maiden podium.
At the next stop in Bunyoro, now party spoiler Rajiv Ruparelia registered his first NRC win after winning six of seven stages,was followed by championship leader Mubiru and crew of Ronald Ssebuguzi managed a third place.
Per the above stats, Could Alwi have managed to floor the boys for a maximum 100 points?
Alwi’s detractors says that if its a moral question of the naming of the rally, he is one of the drivers that have always organised girls to rally events.
Final Entry List of Sexy Speed Rally
1.Jamadali Lwabaga/Kaluya Peter Brown jnr–Toyota.FX
2.Dr Henry Maseruka/Denis Tibenda–Toyota.RunX
3.Nasser Ratib / lukwago sadat Toyota fx
4.Issa Nyanzi/Mathias Kiyega-Subaru Impreza
5.Hajji Amiri Kavuma/Mustafa Kanakulya–Subaru impreza
6.Samuel Watendwa/Stephen Bunya–T.Fx
7.Mukumbi Rashid
(SHID)/Yusuf Babu jr-Subaru Impreza
8.Ronald Sebuguzi/Anthony Mugambwa-Evo X
9.Najib Ssempijja/Gloria Nantongo–Suzuki swift
10.Dr Godfrey Nsereko/Raymond Munyigwa–Subaru GC8
11.Ibrahim Lubega/Geoffrey Serwoga–T.Fx
12.Ukasha Mugoya/Duncan Katumba — Subaru GC8
13.Faizal Kayiira/Mariam Nambasa — Subaru GC8
14.Didas Matsiko/Alfred Mutanda — Subaru
15.Ahmed Mayinja/Hakim Kamoga — Subaru GC8
16.Ssemambo Julius/Diana Nagawa — Toyota FX
17.Abdul Katete/George Semakula–Subaru N14(444Racing)
19.Fred Busulwa/Joseph Bongole–Subaru N10
19.Shaffiq Ssendagire/Hamza Lwanga–Subaru Gc8
20.Gilberto Balondemu/Gilbert Walugyo–Toyota Levin
21.Omar Mayanja/Hussein Mukuye-Evo x
22.Sadat Negomba/Shakirah Nabwami–Subaru
23.Mike Mukula jnr/Sirajih Kyambadde–Subaru
24.Peter Businge/Hakim Mawanda–Subaru
25.Mustafa Mukasa/Mildred Kibuuka–Subaru
26.Edward Kirumira/Robert Katabalwa–Toyota Curren
27.Salim Kyebagadha/Kevin Lubambula–T.Trueno
28.Oscar Ntambi/Asuman Muhammad–Alteza
29.Kasana Robert/ TBA–Subaru
30.Muzamir Watolya Mwami/Abdul Karim Kakooza–T.RunX
31.Wo1 Ismail Lule/TBA-Vw Golf
32.Duncan Mubiru/Musa Nsubuga–Subaru GVB
33.Rajiv Ruparelia/Enock Olinga Leroy–VW Polo Proto
34.Jas Mangat /Joseph Kamya–Evo x
