Kenya: Lwakataka is Best

Nairobi Star (Nairobi)

Samson Ateka

18 July 2011

Dethyse savours maiden African Rally Championship victory in Uganda despite finishing second overall

Two-time Ugandan champion Ponsiano Lwakataka also known as. “Mafu Mafu” was the surprise package of the 2011 KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally as curtains came down on the Kampala event.

Burundian Alain Dethise also savoured his maiden FIA African Rally Championship victory despite finishing second overall and trailing Lwakataka by a huge 9.03 minutes margin.

The Ugandan tour witnessed only two ARC finishers with the Madagascan crew of Frederick Rakotomanaga and Adam Yachine settling for second in the continental series and fifth in the overall classification. But Lwakataka, who won back to back Uganda national rally championship titles in 2005 and 2006, had his Pearl campaign effectively sewn up when pace-setters Jas Mangat of Uganda and Zim oldie James Whyte retired on Leg Two.

Speed merchant “Mafu Mafu”, however, thanked God for the victory as he recounted some harrowing moments. “It has come as a big surprise to me because the way I started wasn’t good. I didn’t want to open the road so I took a penalty for that on Saturday. On leg 1A (spectator stage), I found myself in an unfamiliar 16th place and though the position was later overruled by stewards, such things really affected my drive. I have done my best- pushed my best and God has given me the victory,” said Lwakataka.

Mangat had been the talk of the town with his new-found high-octane approach and had his Subaru Impreza N12 going at full blast in the first two days, but with just one stage to spare, he exited at full pelt. Mangat rolled at CS16 (Mbalala-Bibbo) stage; incidentally the same spot where his compatriot Ronald Sebuguzi rolled on Saturday.

Whyte was well on course for good things until gear box gremlins forced him out in the 14th competitive section at Nakifuma 3.

His retirement was to Conrad Rautenbach’s delight. The latter remains on top of the ARC table despite opting for the VW Rally South Africa this weekend. Mangat had fought a good fight. With a whole 5 minutes ahead of Lwakataka, Jas continued cruising aggressively before the excruciating roll.

Whyte’s navigator Phil Archenoul looked rather dejected with their retirement. “We are a bit sad because we were hoping for a bit of an advantage on Conrad. We were comfortably on the lead of Africa-but you know Jamie races not just for the championship-Jamie races to win and we were really going for that,” said Archenoul.

As Leg 2 zoomed off at Hotel Africana in Kampala, Mangat enjoyed a 3 minutes cushion but Whyte put his act together and was really flying. “We realised that Jas had a problem with the centre diff so we thought it was a chance of catching him. Unfortunately, that is what happens in rallying-the gods of rallying take over-but we are still going to Tanzania and we just won’t give it to Conrad,” said Whyte.

AllAfrica – All the Time