Drama unfolded in the SMC Masaka Rally as a two-wheel category driver led to his own withdrawal in an event he desperately wanted to get points to bolster his championship chances.
Henry Maseruka and Denis Tibenda in a Toyota RunX finished the event’s day one in a commanding fourth place on the 2WD class. They were 23rd overall at the end of leg.
However, the drive on Saturday must have drained the driver who thought a long Saturday night’s rest would rejuvenate him for leg two. It wasn’t to be.
Crews were expected to be up as early as 06:48 for the start of Sunday’s leg. The starting order had been issued the night before and the 2WD crew knew too well what time they were to be out of the parc ferme.
While the team co-driver was up, the driver was a no-show; having opted to take a few more minutes for the Sunday morning nap.
Minutes later and obviously late for their start, confusion hit the crew with words being exchanged with the blame game ensuing on who was responsible for waking up the driver.
In embarrassment and annoyance, just like that the crew opted out of the rally; ending any hopes of collecting points in the championship.
Elsewhere, it was a not so pleasant ending for the Kikankane rally crew as a disagreement within the team left both driver and co-driver unhappy with each other.
The crew had earlier on leg one been ‘blocked’ by the crew of Faizal Kayiira/Hakim Kamoga in the 11.33km Nabugabo Field stage. Kayiira had suffered a mechanical problem to his Subaru GC8 in the stage denying two crews; Didas Matsiko and Duncan Mubiru ‘Kikankane’ passage.
Later, Matsiko would find his way and progressed to complete the stage. However Duncan stayed and was delayed for some unknown reason. He instead lost time possibly with the hope of being given nominal time which wasn’t awarded.
On return, he was fuming and asked his co-driver Joseph Kamya to put in a protest.
Kamya was never in support because he thought it was the driver who delayed the crew after seeing other cars finding their way.
The disagreement on whether to raise a protest stirred some emotions through the rest of the day.
The crew finished day one in eighth place with 11 minutes and 5 seconds behind the leader Ponsiano Lwakataka who went on to win the rally.
Kikankane fought back on day two to earn a fourth place finish.
Crew was stuck in stage 2 not the nabugabo field stage which was 3rd stage