Eastern Challenge RallySunday1. Jan Mangat (Subaru N12) 01:13:242. Ronald Sebuguzi (Evo9) 01:15:523. John Consta (Subaru N8) 01:17:194. Shaffik Ssemujju (Subaru N11) 01:23:065. Manraj Singh (Subaru N12) 01:25:026. Chriskitas Fitidis (Subaru N12)01: 26:46NRC Standings (Top 5)Jas Mangat (Uga) 383 pointsRobert Ssebuguzi (Uga) 312 pointsChristakis Fitidis (Rwa) 242 pointsDan Mubiru (Uga) 235 pointsSusan Muwonge (Uga) 213 pointsRWANDA’s Fitidis Christakis is on course for his maiden podium finish in the Uganda National Rally Championship.Fitidis finished sixth overall in the Eastern Challenge rally clocking one hour, twenty six minutes and forty six seconds in Jinja on Sunday.He finished six places behind winner Jas Mangat, who clocked one hour, thirteen minutes and twenty four seconds but the 35 points he collected were enough to push him into third place for the NRC standings.Speaking to Times Sport yesterday by phone from Kampala, Fitidis said, “It was a tough rally. We had a lot of problems but we managed to finish the competition in sixth place.”“We had gear problems on the last section of the competition on Sunday and had it not been for that scare, I would have won the race but am happy with sixth place.“We are on course to achieving our target. Prior to the competition, we set a target of finishing inside the top three and right now, we are on course to achieve that,” added Fitidis, who stands third in overall rankings with 242 points.The former Rwanda national champion has intentions of closing the gap in the Mountain Gorilla Rwanda Rally next month, and believes he will take Mangat into the final race for the quest of the Uganda National Rally Championship title.Mangat is favourite to win the 2012 National Rally Championship having tightened his grip on the title with a convincing victory in the Eastern Rally.Mangat (Subaru N12) put up a flawless display on the wet surface, beating Jomayi Rally Team’s Ronald Ssebuguzi by over two minutes to close in on the title.Mangat, who took his tally to 383 points, 71 points clear of Ssebuguzi (Mitsubishi Evo9) needs just 30 points from the Independence Rally to claim silverware.Fitidis has to win the last event on the calendar - the Independence Rally in Masaka in order to pip Mangat and Ssebuguzi the National Rally Title in October.
