Ponsiano Lwakataka and co-driver Paul Musasizi stormed to victory at the Bwera Bistro SMC Challenge Rally in Masaka, solidifying their lead in the National Rally Championship standings with a commanding performance over the weekend.
Driving a SUB SA/PRE, Lwakataka clocked a total time of 1 hour, 29 minutes and 28.49 seconds to finish first in the second round of the NRC calendar.
His dominant run across the 270km course—spread over Masaka and Ssembabule—was enough to hold off a strong challenge from Ronald Ssebuguzi.
Ssebuguzi, alongside co-driver Anthony, piloted a SPV/PRE to second place in a time of 1:34:53.76—just over five minutes behind the winner.
The experienced driver showed consistency throughout the weekend but was unable to match Lwakataka’s pace in the final stages of the rally.
Rounding out the top three was the pair of Musa Ssegaabwe and Mathias K. Mitchelle in a SA/DIV2 vehicle. They completed the event in 1:37:37.36, trailing the leader by just over eight minutes.
The performance marked an impressive showing from the SA/DIV2 class, highlighting the competitive depth in the current NRC field.
The rally, which officially flagged off at Nabugabo Beach after Friday scrutineering, attracted 36 cars and delivered high-octane action across varied terrain.
Fans lined up along the route to witness the thrilling battles, with several stages testing both the speed and endurance of the drivers.
This result extends Lwakataka’s strong start to the 2025 NRC season, while the standings continue to tighten among the top contenders as the championship heads into its next round.
