- This will be the sixth round of the Kenya National Rally Championship
- A total of 21 drivers have confirmed participation
- Karan Patel is the current Championship leader
This weekend’s Nanyuki leg of the Kenya National Rally Championship has attracted a stellar cast of 21 cars, with a good blend of youth and experience expected to rave up the Mount Kenya region=.
Championship leader Karan Patel heads the list for the sixth round of the season in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10. The Nairobi based driver will renew his rivalry with Jasmeet Chana who trails him by a point on the championship log.
The event will also feature two new Rally2 cars (the former R5s) to be driven by Raaji Bharij (Skoda Fabia) and Killifi’s Piero Canobbio in Hyundai i20 Rally2.
Youngsters Hamza Anwar and Nikhil Sachania will drive Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X cars in their spirited campaigns for podium slots in the Nanyuki Rally Group (NRG) organized round.
Multiple Two Wheel Drive champion and current leader Leonardo Varese in a Toyota Auris will be relishing a four-way battle with Kenya’s youngest rally driver Rio Smith (Ford Fiesta Rally4), Sameer Nanji (VW Golf MK2) and Daren Miranda (Subaru).
Oldest driver Tundo to compete
Kenya’s oldest driver Frank Tundo (in his 70s) is back in the saddle and will tackle Nanyuki behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Proto. Tundo senior will team up with Gareth Dawe in the non-homologated National SPV (Special Prepared Vehicles) category.
The National Classic category has Carl Tundo (son of Frank) in a Triumph TR7. Tundo Jnr. will be navigated debutante Samuel Taylor.
Multiple Kenya Champion and 1994 WRC Safari Rally winner Ian Duncan will also be gunning for Classic points in a Nissan Datsun with Shakeel Khan (Ford Escort) and Piers Daykin (Datsun 280Z). Daykin is a former Kenya Navigators’ Champion with Lee Rose and will be banking on local knowledge in his home rally.
Tundo Jnr, who is also the reigning Kenya National Rally Champion, said: “I woke up on Monday and decided I wanted to rally. Tim Jessop sadly couldn’t do the next rally due to other commitments so we are putting a good friend Sam Taylor in the passenger seat with me.”
First time in a rally car
“Sam has never sat in a rally car let alone navigated so should be fun. He is the founder of ForRangers, a charity that raises awareness and 100% of funds raised goes to rangers around Africa. He has scaled Mt.Everest so hopefully sitting with me will be a breeze! ”
Kenya’s second youngest rally driver Rajveer Thethy will pilot a Subaru Impreza while additional Subarus in the event will be in the hands of Edward Maina aka Emka, Amman Shah, Maxine Wahome, Steve Mwangi aka Shifo and Kush Patel (Karan’s sibling).
The one-day rally will be based in Mlima Hema, Greystones and Ole Naishu where the three stages will be repeated to cover 153kms of competitive mileage and 62kms of liaison distance.
KNRC OVERALL STANDINGS AFTER WRC SAFARI
1 Karan Patel 135
2 Jasmeet Chana 134
3 Kush Patel 54
4 Leo Varese 51
5 Maxine Wahome 46
6 Jeremiah Wahome 41
7 Ghalib Hajee 40
8 Carl Tundo 39
9 Steve Mwangi 36
10 Zameer Verjee 33
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