Ponsiano Lwakataka Edges Out Competition as He Wins Day One of the SMC Masaka Rally

Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musaazi won day one of the Bam Petroleum SMC Masaka rally in their Subaru Impreza Sti N12B with a time of 0:40:20:41. Lwakataka put on a show winning two out of the five that were run (SS1 and SS2), he was second in SS3.

Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musaazi in one of the stages at the SMC Masaka rally. Photo credit: Innocent Mutaawe.

The “Mafu Mafu” rally team’s Lwakataka/Musaazi had last competed back in the Hoima rally, as they come from the organizing club, it was expected that they would compete in Masaka; which is also their home. As Lwakataka spoke to the press on his win, he said (in translation), “When I come for a rally, I don’t come to participate, I come to compete, and I also don’t come to be in just any position, I come for victory.” He is one of the most competitive drivers and it shows when he is taking part in an event.

Moil rally team’s Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba came in second place in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 (R5) with a time of 0:40:37:05. There is a time difference of 0:00:16:64 from Lwakataka and it will be truly interesting and fan to see how day two ends. Nasser won three stages; SS3, SSS4A, & SSS4B, and also won the circuit round in Kalisiizo which had beautiful grounds where the circuit was run at E-Villas.

Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba in their Ford Fiesta Rally 2 nicknamed “Nemo” in the circuit. Photo credit: Innocent Mutaawe.

Shell’s Ronald Ssebuguzi and co-driver Anthony Mugambwa were third in their Ford Fiesta Proto with a time of 0:40:53:91. Ssebuguzi has a time difference of almost 17 seconds from Nasser and 33seconds from Lwakataka. Ssebuguzi came in third from SS2 right to the end of the day.

Putting on a good performance finishing fourth, was Peter Kalule and co-driver David Mwesigwa, the crew kept a good pace throughout the rally and shouldn’t be counted out on grabbing themselves another podium finish. The team scored their first podium finish in the EMC Jinja rally that was held in July.

Peter Kalule and co-driver David Mwesigwa in their Subaru Impreza XV. Photo credit: Innocent Mutaawe.

Closing out the top five were Joshua Muwanguzi and co-driver Mariam Nambasa. The youngsters making a splash this season also finished in the top ten; Yasser Ali Omar in eighth place, and Ahmed Mohammed Ali in ninth.

Duncan Mubiru and co-driver Joseph Bongole also performed well in the circuit round where they came in second behind Nasser/Katumba. They were second in SS2 and third in SS1.

Day two will cover 76.31km.

Day One Results;