Two-time National Rally Champion Ponsiano Lwakataka won the Bistro Bwera SMC Rally, cementing his 2025 National Rally Championship (NRC) lead.
The two-day event, characterized by wet and slippery route surfaces, demanded that drivers exhibit extra skills to navigate the stages.
Navigated by Paul Musaazi in a Subaru Impreza N12B, Lwakataka led the rally from start to finish, posting the fastest time of 1 hour, 29 minutes, and 28.29 seconds.
Lwakataka beat the crew of Ronald Ssebuguzi and Anthony Mugambwa in their Ford Fiesta Proto by 5 minutes and 25.27 seconds, securing a second-place finish overall.
Segamu14 Racing crew Musa Ssegaabwe and Mathias Kiyanga, recently elevated to top-tier contention after winning their Clubman Rally Championship title, trailed the leaders with close time postings in all stages.
With back-to-back wins, having won the first round in Mbarara earlier this year, Lwakataka seems to have had an auspicious start to the 2025 season, raising his hopes for a third NRC title.
Lwakataka maintains his lead on the scoreboard with 117.0 points, 13 points ahead of Ssebuguzi, while Mike Mukula Junior, who secured a sixth-place finish overall in Sembabule, lies third with 83 points.
“Mathematically, I only need to finish on the podium in the five remaining rallies, with Ssebuguzi not beating me in any of them, to secure my third title,” Lwakataka disclosed.
He added that even if Jas Mangat wins the remaining events, he will only need to finish second behind him to be declared the 2025 champion.
Duncan Mubiru ‘Kikankane’, who returned to the cockpit after a year-long sabbatical, could only manage a fourth-place finish after experiencing issues with his newly rebuilt Ford Fiesta Proto.
Mubiru also furiously raised concerns about time inaccuracies at controls, stating that they favored the day’s victor.
John Consta, who has also been on and off racing, expressed satisfaction with his return, stating that he is looking forward to the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally next.
The Pearl of Africa Rally, the second round of the 2025 African Rally Championship, will double as the third NRC round for local competitors.
Scheduled to take place from May 9-11, 2025, the prestigious continental event will be held in the Ankole region, Western Uganda, for the first time.
The continental event is expected to attract foreign drivers from around the continent, particularly from Kenya.
The program for the Pearl of Africa Rally will be available starting April 10, 2025, with rally details accessible through the Sportity app ARCPOAUR25.
