Uganda’s Jas Mangat Wins the Pearl of Africa rally 2022 On Its Return Since 2019

Pili Pili rally team’s Jas Mangat and co-driver Joseph Kamya won the Pearl of Africa Uganda rally in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X in a total time of 1:53:06:12 in a competitive distance of 195.21km on his first return to rallying since winning the UMC Kassanda Sugar rally back in June 2021. Mangat surely put on a great performance, leading right from day one and holding that position right to the end.

This is Jas Mangat’s second Pearl of Africa win and the first for team Uganda in three years as Kenya’s Manvir Singh Baryan has won it for three consecutive years-2017, 2018, and 2019. Hassan Alwi and navigator Enoch Olinga were last Ugandans to win in 2016. It was cancelled in 2020 due to the outbreak of Covid-19 and postponed in 2021 due to the restrictions in movement. Jas Mangat won the event in 2013 with co-driver Gihan de Silva in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X. Mangat said due to the wet conditions it was hard to go through the roads but was very happy for the win on his return. The team scored a double win, scoring for both the African Rally Championship and National Rally Championship. These will be the first points for Mangat in both championships.

From left; Leroy Gomes, Urshlla Gomes, Joseph Kamya, Jas Mangat in the centre, Sylvia Vindevogel and Giancarlo Davite at the right.

Zambia’s Leroy Gomes and wife Urshlla Gomes finished overall second in their Ford Fiesta R5 with a time of 1:58:11:27. There was a time difference of 5mins:05seconds:15microseconds between Mangat and Gomes. Gomes team had fans cheering for them and expressed their gratitude for the Ugandan rally fans for supporting them and cheering them on saying, “There are no fans like Ugandan rally fans”. The team remains in the lead on the ARC.

Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite and navigator Sylvia Vindevogel in their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X came in third place with a time of 1:58:52:76 just 41seconds:49microseconds behind the Gomes team. Davite has competed in almost all pearl of Africa events and was glad to be back and scoring a podium win. It was good to have two women finishing on the podium on Mother’s Day. Rounding out the top five on the ARC category was Uganda’s Yasin Nasser and co-driver Ali Katumba in fourth place and third in the NRC scoring a podium win for team Moil and Ugandan Airlines and Kenya’s McRae Kimathi and co-driver Kioni Mwangi in fifth place. Kimathi also thanking the fans for the support and cheering them on with passion.

Out of the thirty-seven national crews that competed in the NRC, only 14crews completed the pearl event, showing the brutal nature of the rally and tricky weather conditions. In second place behind Mangat, was fan favorite Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musaazi in their Subaru Impreza with a time of 2:00:38:62. Lwakataka was penalized five minutes for leaving the track in one of the sections but still managed to score a podium finish and keep his first-place position on the NRC. He thanked the fans and recommended the organizers for prioritizing safety and the vigilance to have an accident-free pearl rally. Rounding out the top five, were Byron Rugomoka and co-driver Mawanda Hakim in fourth place and Abdul Kateete and co-driver Pius Luggya in fifth.

In the 2WD category, there were only two finishers, Ntambi Oscar and co-driver Asuman Muhammad took the lead with 2:24:16:09 in their Toyota Alteza and in second place was Dr. Nsereko Godfrey and co-driver Serwanga Jackson in a Subaru Impreza with a time of 3:17:24:74.

In the Clubman Rally Championship (CRC), the very entertaining Mike Mukula Jr. and navigator Kiyinji Edward won the category in their Subaru Impreza with a time of 1:30:41:39. Mukula is on his way to building his own name in the motor sporting world. In second place was Nasser Ratib and co-driver Nasser Samir in a Toyota Corolla with a time of 1:55:44:37 and in third place was Dr. Maseruka Henry and co-driver Tibenda Dennis in a Toyota RunX with a time of 2:21:06:87. This was a very entertaining event and fans came out in full force to cheer on the drivers; safety was a major concern going into the event but the FIA delegates breathed a sigh of relief recommending the eager fans for maintaining safety and adhering to the rules put in place. Among the many to retire were; Maxine Wahome, Jeremy Wahome, Hamza Anwar, Duncan Mubiru, Arthur Blick Jr., Hassan Alwi, John Burrows Lumu, Kepher Walubi, Makumbi Rashid, Samuel Bwette among others. Amaanraj Rai did not take part in the event due to personal issues. The next event on the NRC calendar is in July-the fourth round and on the ARC calendar, Rally of Tanzania is scheduled for 22 to 24 July 2022.