Masaka: Ponsiano Lwakataka has always said he is as lethal as any competitor in any car while in his old Subaru N8. He has always argued that competitors that beat him do it because they have superior cars and can only do that on technical terrains.
He lived to that claim over the weekend when he emerged the winner of the Tavern Kick SMC Challenge Rally in Masaka outclassing a field of very technically superior cars handled by fellow senior drivers.
Ponsiano took advantage of the 42 km Bukeri stage, the first on Sunday morning to open up a 60 second lead after overnight leader Jas Mangat dropped out 14km into the stage with engine failure.
A resurging Hassan Alwi in a Subaru N14 overturned that lead in Stage 2, Kyabakuza 41 km stage with a favorable weather condition that saw the rest of the field suffer heavy rains and by end of stage 5, was leading Ponsiano by 6 seconds before dropping out with engine failure as well.
Ronald Sebuguzi, Omar Mayanja, Arthur Blick all driving EVO X as well as Duncan in a Subaru N14-R4 were no match for Ponsiano whose flat out attack principle gelled with his old Subaru N8 and Sam Mugisha calling the notes to maintain good pace.
Was it a case of superior cars failing to live up to the occasion or was it the ability of ponsiano as a driver that determined the day? Arguably, Ponsiano is a very quick driver who takes crazy risks that other competitors can’t take. When it comes to technical terrains with several turns and slow bends, Ponsiano and his N8 are inferior to the senior drivers with superior cars. But when it comes to flat out stretches, Ponsiano can match any car any day.
Three stages of the rally contributed to about 120km of flat stretches. These were the sections that did it for Ponsiano. Earlier in the week he had mentioned that if he won the first stage on Sunday morning he would take the day. He won that stage and indeed he took the day. Ponsiano has 17 years of rallying experience and his Subaru N8 is also 17 years old.
Meanwhile the crew of Unisan Bakunda and his co Umar Kakande continues to impress with their daring approach rally after rally. Their 3rd place finish, less than 2 minutes off Ponsiano and barely 50 seconds off second placed Duncan Mubiru in a much inferior EVO 4 raises the question of whether he is the newest kid to watch.
