By Frank Kaheesi
What you need to know:
ARC standings after Burundi:
1.Yasin Nasser 78 – 2. Jas Mangat 63 – 3. Karan Patel 60
UGANDAN crews of Yasin Nasser and Jas Mangat pick crucial African Rally championship points at Rallye International du Burundi, to keep the top of the 2023 African championship.
The duo finishes second and third behind event winner Kenya’s Karan Patel, to hold the 1-2 ARC lead of 78 and 63 points respectively.
Patel bagging his second ARC win now lies third with 60 points, posted the event’s fastest time of one hour 44 minutes 44.3seconds.
Patel won the Equator rally that was held in Voi, Kenya, but decided to miss the Pearl of Africa Uganda rally, a decision he regrets now as the championship has started taking shape with three events left.
Another surviving crew of Innocent Bwamiki navigated by Hamza Lwanga in Mitsubishi Evo9, who after rolling in stage on Saturday, managed to cross the event final flying finish line on Sunday, to bag themselves 24 points for ARC2 contention, 19points for the ARC.
Tanzania’s Prince Charles Nyerere joined the ARC contention with Burundi Rally and finished fifth after experiencing car differential and clutch problems.
Homeboy Valery Bukera in a Subaru N12 commanded the home pack, posting the fastest run time of one hour 49 minutes, 05.9 seconds.
The next ARC border stop is in Rwanda, next month.
Photos: Innocent Mutaawe & Odeon .T
