Omar Mayanja Unstoppable at the Champions Sprint in Busiika
By Mwambazi Lawrence
Busiika, Uganda – In a race that left rally fans on the edge of their seats, Omar Mayanja proved he’s not just a rally driver, but a speeding legend at the Champions Sprint held yesterday, December 26, 2024, at Busiika Adventure Park. With his trusty Mitsubishi EvoX and his daughter Shakirah Nalwogga as his co-driver, Mayanja crossed the finish line with a time of 3:44.22 leaving everyone else wondering if they should have just brought their bicycles instead..
The event boasted an insane turnout of over 50 entries, making Busiika the place to be for rally lovers. In what could only be described as a high-speed “who’s who” of Uganda’s rally scene, Mayanja powered through the course, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Mike Mukula Jr., who completed the race in 3:46.62. There were also some serious burns on the gravel from John Consta and Aaron Nsamba, driving their Ford Fiesta Proto, who ended up in third place, just four seconds behind the leaders. Talk about a finish so tight, you could have used a ruler to separate them!
As for Umar Dauda and Mwambazi Lawrence, they tried to close the gap in their Mitsubishi EvoX, but they were just a bit too shy of the winner’s time, finishing 7 seconds behind. The highly experienced Ronald Sebuguzi rounded out the top five with a time of 3:52.30. However, Sebuguzi’s performance was marred by a jumpstart that handed him a 10-second penalty, pushing him down from a potential higher position.
The 2WD category was equally full of suspense. Masoor Lubega and Ahmed Mayinja, driving a Toyota Corolla, took the win with a time of 4:23.63, but not without some tense moments. Julius Semambo and Diana Nagawa weren’t far behind, taking second place with a time of 4:25.20 in their Toyota Sprinter. Sabiti Muyanja and Mariam Nambasa wrapped up the 2WD podium in third place with a time of 4:29.50.
However, the event wasn’t all smooth roads. Ponsiano Lwakataka and Isaac Sozzi both had near-identical incidents, rolling their Subarus in the same section of the course. Talk about twinsies! Fortunately, both drivers emerged unharmed, and their cars, though a little battered,
The Busiika Adventure Park saw a huge turnout of rally fans, with enthusiasts traveling from across Uganda to witness the high-speed action. Fans didn’t just watch the action they felt the action. If you didn’t have dirt in your shoes by the end of the day, were you even there?
Looking ahead, the 2025 rally season is already on the horizon, with the season opener scheduled for January 24–26 in Mbarara, promising even more thrilling action for rally fans across the country.
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