The first day of the SMC Masaka rally was as entertaining as it was challenging, with the rain pouring in the morning making for muddy and slippery stages in the Greater Masaka areas of Kyotera and Kalisizo. Day one covered a competitive distance of 47.43km. Jas Mangat and co-driver Enock Olinga took the lead at the days end in their Hyundai i20 with a time of 33:11.9. The crew kept a strong lead from the very first stage to the circuit though were penalised 00:10; the crew will be taking part in this season’s championship and it will be the first full season for the i20.
Coming in second for the day, was Shell’s Ronald Ssebuguzi and co-driver Anthony Mugambwa in their Ford Fiesta Proto with a time of 37:19.9. The crew had a good day going posting good times and pushing through the stages, there was a time difference of 03:58.0 between Ssebuguzi and Mangat.
A very impressive third place finish for Nasser Mutebi and co-driver Steven Bunya, with a time of 37:48.5 in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9. Mutebi/Bunya were very entertaining to watch and had fans cheering them on with their clean and aggressive driving. It was one of the best performing crews of the day.
Out of the twenty-five crews on the start list for the day, twenty-two finished at the end of the day. Musa Ssegaabwe and co-driver Mathias Kiyegga finished in fourth place in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9, the crew had promised to give their best for this event and it showed with this finishing on the first day
Leading the 2WD category for day one was, Dr Nsereko Godfrey and co-driver JB Musisi in their Toyota Run X, the crew finished in seventh place overall but first in the 2WD category.
Joshua Muwanguzi and co-driver Hamza Lwanga finished in fifth place in their Subaru Impreza N12 but suffered a penalty of 01:40; Jonas Kansiime co-driven by Ronald Bukenya finished sixth.
Unfortunately, Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musaazi suffered a mechanical issue with his Subaru Impreza N12B making them retire from the event.
Day two/the last day of competition will cover 63.08km.
Day One Classification:
- Jas Mangat/Enock Olinga-Hyundai i20-33:11.9
- Ronald Ssebuguzi/Anthony Mugambwa-Ford Fiesta Proto-37:19.9
- Nasser Mutebi/Steven Bunya-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9-37:48.5
- Musa Ssegaabwe/Mathias Kiyegga-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9-38:58.6
- Joshua Muwanguzi/Hamza Lwanga-Subaru Impreza N12-40:33:6
- Jonas Kansiime/Ronald Bukenya-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 8-41:23.7
- Dr. Nsereko Godfrey/JB Musisi-Toyota RunX-42:38.4
- Didas Matsiko/Alfred Mutanda-Subaru Impreza-42:59.9
- Dr. Mukasa Moustapha/Lawrence Mwambazi-Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9-43:32.8
- Issac Ssozi/Monica Birwinyo-Subaru Impreza N8-43:54.7
- Haruna Kataza/Urban Mulindwa-Subaru Impreza N10-44:59.0
- Odeon Niwagaba Tumwebaze/Assuman Muhammad-Toyota Altezza-46:09.8
- Faizal Kayira/Hakim Kamoga-Subaru Impreza-46:18.6
- Julius Semambo/Geofrey Serwonga-Toyota FX-47:41.3
- Hajj Ahmed Ssenyonjo/Sharif Muyanja-Toyota Corolla FX-49:50.5
- Edward Kirumira/Shakirah Nabwami-Toyota Corona-52:09.2
- Hajj Amiri Kavuma/Doreen Nabira-Subaru Impreza 2WD-52:50.5
- Fred Busulwa Kitaka/Joseph Bongole-Subaru Impreza N10-56:21.5
- Timothy Gawaya/Francis Wamala-Toyota Starlet-01:03:48.3
- Gilberto Balondemu/Gilbert Walugyo-Toyota Corolla-01:04:29.0
- W.O.1 Ismail Lule/Steven Bunya-VW Golf-01:08:26.6
- Samuel Watendwa/Alvin Luyimbazi-Toyota FX-01:44:57.0
