Rwanda’s Fitidis starts eighth in Mbarara rally

Provisional starting order:1. Ronald Ssebuguzi2. Shafiq Ssemujju3. Wycliff Bukenya4. John Consta5. Ponsiamo Lwakataka6. Jas Mangat7. Duncan Mubiru8. Christakis Fitidis9. Edison Munghereza10. Nathan MutebiFormer national rally champion Christakis Fitidis will be flagged off in eighth position in the Mbarara rally which is the first round on the 2013 National Rally Championship (NRC).The two-day rally event is organised by the Federation of Motor Sport Clubs of Uganda [FMU] starts on Friday. The 340 kilometer rally has eight competitive sections starting in Bushenyi on day one and end at Kyamugolanyi in Mbarara district.Fitidis, who will be driving a Subaru Impreza 12, told Times Sport yesterday, “The Ugandan race is fast and risky but we will make sure we stage a good performance. Had it not been for the accident that I suffered in the Mt. Gorilla Rwanda Rally last year, I would have won the (Uganda NRC) title.” “But I will try and go for it again this year, it will not be easy because the Ugandan rally has very fast drivers,” added the Belgium-born driver, who tied for third place last season with former champion Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge.Former national champion Ronald Ssebuguzi in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9, will be flagged off first; 23-year-old Shafiq Ssemujju (Subaru N11) will hit the road second, while veteran Wycliff Bukenya (Mitsubishi Evo9), John Consta (Subaru N8) and Ponsiano Lwakataka (Subaru N8) will be third, fourth and fifth respectively.Ssebuguzi will start ahead of reigning national champion Jas Mangat, who starts in sixth because the start-order is based on performance in last month’s Premier Sprint at Lubiri.Mangat, in a Subaru N12, will take off sixth which is relatively safe from menacing traffic in the competitive sections. Just like Fitidis, Mangat who was in Kenya for the KCB Kajiado Rally, did not compete in the Premier sprint.Fitidis departed for Mbarara, yesterday, ahead of the super special stage due to be held at Pine Ridge racing circuit in Masaka on Friday.

Sports

Rwanda’s Fitidis starts eighth in Mbarara rally