KCB Pearl of Africa rally
Provisional overall results
1. P.Lwakataka (Uga)       2.05.42
2. C. Fitidis (Rwa) 2.14.45
3. A. Dethise (Bur) 2.15.42
4. S.Muwonge (Uga)
    2.16.52
5. A. Ashraf (Uga) 2.17.28
 
CHRISTAKIS Fitidis defied the odds to finish second in the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally which climaxed yesterday.
Navigated by Eric Nzamwita in a Subaru N12, the national rally champion secured his career best finish despite trailing homeboy Ponsiano Lwakataka by a massive 9.02minutes.
Burundi’s Alain Dethise in a Subaru N11 secured the final podium slot in 2.15.42 hours.
Lwakataka surged into the lead after day two leader Jas Mangat and reigning African Rally Champion Jamie Whyte crashed out.
Mangat crashed his Subaru during the 16th competitive section while Whyte was forced to pull out after a gearbox malfunction.
For Fitidis, it was a laudable performance and improvement from last year where he finished third.
He, however, had a shaky start after finishing 8th in Friday’s 5.30km Super Special Stage in Lubiri. On day two, he climbed into fifth place after clocking one hour, 31 minutes and 53 seconds in the race which doubles as the 5th round on this year’s Africa Rally Championship.
Despite finishing outside the top five, Zimbabwe’s Conrad Rautenbach maintains the lead on the ARC charts with 93 points.
Whyte is second on 76 points while Dethise and 2004 Africa Rally Champion Muna Singh are third and fourth with 25 and 24 points respectively.
Ugandan pair of Susan Muwonge and Dr. Ahmed Ashraf finished fourth and fifth respectively.
The next two races on the ARC are Tanzania’s Kobil rally due on September 2-4 and the KCB Rwanda Mountain Gorilla rally from September 30-October 2.
Madagascar’s international rally from November 25-27 will draw the curtain on the championship.

Ends