Yasin Nasser set a hot early pace through the morning loop of the 2023 Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally on Saturday, with the top three drivers blanketed by less than 120 seconds.
With the eastern sunlight preening through the sugar cane plantations in Jinja, the opening 25 km section dedicated to fallen Zambian rally legend Muna Singh Sr. was a demanding way for the drivers to kick start the challenge, and it was Nasser who picked up the initiative first.
He pushed his Ford Fiesta R5 to set the fastest time of 21:36.70, 38 seconds ahead of hot favourite Jas Mangat, with defending national champion Byron Rugomoka a further 120 seconds behind.
Hassan Alwi came fourth, with Mubiru Duncan ‘Kikankane’ topping the top five positions.
Mangat came back fighting in what quickly turned into a two-way fight for the lead, winning the second section 17 seconds ahead of Nasser.
Nasser responded quite well through the first run of SCOUL, replenishing the 17 seconds he lost in the previous section as they returned to the first service of the rally.
Major causalities started with Innocent Bwamiki, whose first attempt at the African Rally Championship faded less than five kilometres with a broken suspension arm.
Ronald Ssebuguzi was next to feel the bite of the Pearl rally when an excursion with a stone left him with a broken driving arm 20 km into the section, despite being up to pace against the front runners.
Mike Mukula Jr. pulled through the opening loop without an episode of the drama, having to do over 15 km of the opening section on three tyres with a puncture.
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