Fitidis eyes strong finish

RWANDA’s rally driver Christakis Fitidis will be aiming for a good finish in the year’s Mountain Gorilla Rally which gets underway this Friday with a Super Stage session at Gahanga Quarry in Kicukiro.Fitidis could be the first Rwandan to win the Uganda National Rally Championship if he wins the weekend rally, which has attracted 20 drivers.The former Rwandan national champion has intentions of closing the gap on Jas Mangat in the Mt. Gorilla Rwanda Rally. He believes he will take Mangat into the final race for the quest for the Uganda National Rally Championship title.Last week, Fiditis, put up a flawless show to win the Grand Masters Sprint as many drivers suffered aborted runs on the wet Lubiri track. Fitidis’ victory after posting the best time of nine minutes 15 seconds earns him maximum (ten) points and raised the stakes in the NRC title race.The Rwandan is now tied with Ronald Ssebuguzi on 312 points apiece. He also closed the gap on run-away leader, Mangat, who finished runner up at the sprint.Mangat (9 minutes 34 seconds) took his tally to 391 points, just 71 ahead of Ssebuguzi and Fiditis.“We are on course to achieving our target. Prior to the competition, we set a target of finishing inside the top three and we are on course to achieve that,” Fiditis told Times Sport on Monday.He added, “If I can win the Mountain Gorilla Rally and go ahead to beat Mangat in the Independence rally, then I think I will have high chances of winning the Uganda championship title.”Battle of SubarusMeanwhile, Rwanda’s premier rally event, which is also round seven on the 2012 FIA ARC calendar, has attracted eleven Subaru cars.Fitidis leads Rwanda’s assault alongside Davite Giancarlo, Olivier Costa, Mitraros Elefter, Claude Kwizera, Said Twizeyimana, Mayaka Felekani, Johhny Murengezi, Ange Cyatangabo, Janvier Mulemba and Genese.Uganda’s attack is led by Jas Mangat, Consta racing, Kinkakane rally team led by John Consta Karumuna, Mafu Mafu led by Ponsiano Lwakataka, Edson Mungyereza, Peter Kalule, Wampamba, Gibs rally team and veteran driver Charles Muhangi.Zambia’s youthful driver Mohammed Essa, who landed his maiden Africa Rally Championship (ARC) title after winning the Puma Energy Tanzania International Rally last month, will not compete in the Mt. Gorilla Rally.Davite is ranked second on the African rally championship standings amid with 55 points. Essa has accumulated 115 points.

Sports

Fitidis eyes strong finish