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Kenya: Kimathi Jr Tops Kenyan Brigade at Pearl of Uganda Rally as Local Mangat Clinches Title

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3 years ago

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Nairobi — WRC3 and Junior WRC contender McRae Kimathi was the top placed Kenyan in an extremely muddy and slippery ARC Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally.

Piloting his state-of-the-art M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3 and navigated by compatriot Mwangi Kioni, Kimathi clocked 2:12.17.00 to finish eighth overall.

McRae, who is defending the ARC Junior title that he won during the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally 2022, was using the Pearl Rally’ to prepare for the upcoming WRC Rally Portugal.

Ugandan Jas Mangat emerged the overall winner beating Leroy Gomes of Zambia to second while Rwandese warhorse Giancarlo Davite completed the podium dash.

Both Leroy and Davite were navigated by female navigators. Leroy had his pace-notes called by his wife Urshlla while Sylvia Vindevogel of Burundi navigated Davite.

Mangat, who competes under Pilipili Rally Team livery, posted 1 hour, 58mins and 6 seconds to achieve the feat.

Fourth behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza was Ponsiano Lwakataka aka Mafu Mafu while his Ugandan compatriot Yasin Nasser settled for fifth.

The third round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) was definitely not a walk in the park for Kenyan crew given the inclement weather conditions witnessed on the route course .

FIA Rally Star Hamza Anwar was well on course for a fairy tale finish but kissed the FMU (Federation of Motorsport Clubs of Uganda) organized round good-bye on Leg 2’s stage five on Sunday with a broken rear hub.

Hamza, son of former Nanyuki Rally Champion Asad Anwar, was the top placed Kenyan in fifth after the gruelling Leg 1 on Saturday.

He was well on course for good things on Leg 2 until mechanical gremlins set in.

Kenya National Rally leader Karan Patel was among the Kenyans who suffered gremlins in the treacherous conditions. He then rejoined the rally as per the ‘Super Rally’ rule on Sunday morning to settle for 9th place.

Karan, who is fighting for a maiden career FIA ARC title this year, managed to salvage a few points despite his disappointing Day One experience after his Fiesta went off the road and landed into a ditch.

“It was a lesson for me. I need to drive a lot more on slippery surfaces,” said Karan after a disappointing end to his Leg 1 campaign on Saturday that saw him re-enter the event as per the Super Rally on Leg 2. The Suoer Rally rule allows drivers to rejoin the rally with a penalty after retiring on the first day and being able to fix the damages well in time.