Defending African Rally champion Manvir Baryan is well on course of winning his third consecutive Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally after taking the lead on the opening day of the rally, whose route in Busiila had to be changed after a truck carrying refreshments crashed through the bridge.
This meant that the total distance of 4.36 kilometres that had to be covered on the day was to be shortened to half and the competitors had to do fresh notes and reconnaissance.
With the rally proper underway, Manvir and co-driver Drew Sturrock in their feisty Skoda Fabia R5 posted the fastest time of three minutes and 17 seconds to take the day ahead of a field of 45 drivers that started the day.
Jas Mangat in a mitsubishi Evo X, who is the best bet at chasing down Manvir came second, clocking in at three minutes and 20 seconds, three seconds off the fastest time.
Hassan Alwi pushed his Subaru Imprezza N14 to post the third fastest time a further two seconds behind Mangat. Yassin Nasser and Ali Katumba in their Subaru Impreza GVB R4, came a close fourth posting a time of three minutes, 23 seconds.
Arthur Blick closed of the top five positions, stopping the clock at three minutes, 27 seconds. Ten seconds off the fastest time.
Tanzania’s Dharam Pandya who is making his pearl of Africa rally debut, clocked in at an impressive three minutes, 32 seconds. With Duncan Mubiru ‘Kikankane’ topping the top 10 positions at three minutes, 33 seconds.
The rally continues on Saturday in Kayunga District, with a total of four sections that will be repeated twice.
