Muwonge battles Lwakataka for NRC title

NRC standings after five rounds
Susan Muwonge 365 pts
Ponsiano Lwakataka 340
Wycliff Bukenya 205

The destiny of the National Rally Championship (NRC) title still hangs in balance after last weekend’s Eastern Challenge Rally in Jinja. Twenty five points separate the two contenders Susan ‘Super Lady’ Muwonge and Ponsiano Lwakataka as the race for the title heads into the last event on the calendar, the Independence Rally on October 14-16.

In the past, the winner of the Mbarara Rally has gone on to win the NRC title but last year, Nasser Mutebi won the NRC title without winning that event. Can Muwonge reverse the trend after her triumph in Mbarara early this year? “I am ready for the final showdown,” she told SCORE. “When the season started, I did not know that going into the final event of the season I would be the talking point as well as being in the thick of the battle for the national title,” Muwonge stated. She added: “The struggle continues in October for the last event on the calendar. Being top of NRC standings, that gives me hope of winning the crown.”

Lwakataka, who has recorded three wins in a row – the Masaka Challenge, KCB Pearl Rally and the Jinja event, is the form driver and favourite to add on the two he already has (2005 and 2007). “I had no points when Susan (Muwonge) had 160 but slowly I have reduced her lead to only 25 points. I am looking for 60 points in the Tanzania Rally next month before I tackle the Independence Rally,” he explained.

Back in Jinja, day one and the early part of day two were all about veteran driver Wycliff ‘Roll Master’ Bukenya, who was leading Lwakataka by 10 seconds . The 53-year- old, with 25-years experience behind the wheels, in Mitsubishi Evo9, looked a good bet to win his first victory in the NRC. But then he started fading and had to settle for third place overall. “I have taken years without driving in competition but will improve with time and get back into my stride,” Bukenya remarked.

All this time, Nasser Mutebi the reigning national champion, driving a Subaru N8, was gaining momentum from 11th position he occupied on day one to finish a satisfactory second, having triumphed in two competitive sections. “My new engine blew while testing so I had to use a standard one. But I am satisfied with my performance and I am looking forward to the Independence Rally,” a buoyant Mutebi said. Despite his second place finish, Mutebi like Bukenya, is yet to win an NRC event.

Lwakataka showed his class after the opening two competitive sections, which were won by Bukenya and Mutebi respectively. “I relaxed at the beginning but Nasser (Mutebi) and Bukenya (Wycliff) were very fast; I had to change tactics,” Lwakataka said at the half way stage. He eventually won four out of the five competitive sections to emerge victorious for the third time.

While Muwonge and Lwakataka battle for the title, the other key drivers Ronald Ssebuguzi, Bukenya, Mutebi and Edson Mungyereza will also have a say in the destiny of the title. There were many positives in the event. The organisers were spot-on with time keeping as everything was on schedule. A total of 30 drivers registered for the event but only 19 managed to finish.

[email protected]