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But the nimble and agile R5 of Nasser was not to be matched over the 2.6 km of the spectator stage, beating Kikankane by 37 seconds and 48 seconds over both passes.
Yasin Nasser threw caution to the wind on Saturday's opening leg at the 2023 Mbarara Rally to end a spectacular opening day of the 2023 National Rally Championship season with a useful advantage.
Nasser was expected to be in a class of his own behind his more superior Ford Fiesta R5, but he was pushed all the way by Mubiru Duncan ‘Kikankane’.
The 2017 national champion eventually won three of the opening four stages of the rally, to open up a lead of 1:06 secs ahead of Kikankane.
But it’s the crew of Kikankane/ Joseph Bongole who blasted into the lead early on, winning the opening stage – X-Effects of Rutakirwa (25 km), beating Nasser by 27 seconds.
Nasser came back fighting to close the gap on the leader by seven seconds after clocking 09:10.38 in the second stage.
The push from both drivers to have the lead by the end of the day, set out a perfect battle in the spectator stage.
But the nimble and agile R5 of Nasser was not to be matched over the 2.6 km of the spectator stage, beating Kikankane by 37 seconds and 48 seconds over both passes.
Ronald Ssebuguzi and Antony Mugambwa were outliers in this battle, setting the third fastest time on the opening stage, as well as thrilling over the two passes through the spectator stages.
They finish the day in third position overall, 22 seconds behind Kikankane and over 1:30 seconds behind the rally leader.
Ssebuguzi might fancy chasing the top two runners on the final stage, but he should be pre-occupied with keeping Hassan Alwi who will surely put up a charge for the final podium place, with the two separated by only one second.
Fred Busuulwa Kitaka and Mildred Kibuuka are running fifth after the opening day, while defending champion Byron Rugomoka lies sixth, though he will have his eyes on chasing down Kitaka who is ahead of him by 38 seconds.
Ibrahim Lubega/Mustapha Kanakulya hold a strong overnight lead of over four minutes ahead of second placed Umar Kakyama in the two-wheel drive category.
A total challenge of 69.08 kilometres awaits on the final day of the rally where familiar challenges await especially through the first run before morning service.
The X-Effects section opens the day and is followed by another run through Bam Petroleum precedes a return to service for the crews before they tackle the final leg of the rally that runs through Bishop Jungu Kainobwisho (9.31 km) and Isingiro (19.30 km).
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