- Jasmeet Chana is the current leader of the KNRC log
- The next round of the circuit heads to Kajiado
- McRae Kimathi is placed third in the standings
Leader Jasmeet ‘Iceman’ Chana will look to clinch the 2023 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title next month, when the circuit heads for its seventh round in Il Bissil, Kajiado County.
Chana, driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X just needs to finish fifth in Kajiado to all but seal the crown. A fifth spot finish in the Kenya Motor Sport Club (KMSC) organized rally will earn him 17 points, and open up an unassailable lead on top of the log.
The rally is scheduled for October 7-8.
Chana does not want to repeat the same mistakes which saw him lose the crown to Karan Patel last season. Patel nipped the title out of Chana’s hold in the homestretch. He looks to crown his season with the top title, having already clinched all the titles in the lower tiers including Division Three, Division One, Two Wheel Drive (2WD), Group S and Group N which he currently holds.
The elite KNRC overall title is, nevertheless, what has been missing from his bucket list but the Nairobi based auto technician hopes to ruffle feathers in Bisil with his trusted Japanese marque.
Lost last season’s title at the rope
The Rubis Energy Kenya Ltd sponsored driver went into last year’s season closer at the expansive Mwatate’s Teita Sisal Estate with a n-point advantage over Karan only for the title to slip through his grasps at the eleventh hour, much to his chagrin.
Chana has vivid memories for his club event where he chalked up his maiden career podium in 2014 during the KCB KMSC Machakos Rally 2014 incidentally on his very first year teaming up with his elder sibling Ravinder Chana.
“KMSC Rally is going to be an exciting run for us because of the technical nature of Bisil stages. But it will be important to seal the deal in Bisil in order to end the 2023 season on a high. The KNRC overall title is the only thing remaining on our wish list,” he said, looking forward to the battle in the Rift.
Chana goes into the seventh leg with a massive 84-point advantage over youngster Jeremiah Wahome who has 87 points after six rounds. Chana and Wahome have two wins apiece whilst Carl Tundo and Karan Patel have one each.
If Iceman finishes fifth in the next leg, then he will have sealed the title with 188points which neither Wahome (whose achievable maximum is 186) or third placed McRae Kimathi can surpass.
Attained threshold
Chana has already attained the 50% threshold for championship eligibility and awaits major celebrations next month if all goes well. After many years with the Evolution X contraption, this may be to be Iceman’s best outing in his already colorful motorsport career.
“I hope that we can find a good feeling on the roads and finish the season and our partnership with my brother Ravi on a high note,” he added.
According to Clerk for the Course John Kamau, scrutineering shall take place at KMSC Clubhouse in South C on October 7 followed by action on the October 8.
Kamau announced that the route in Bisil is more or less the same as what was used last year.
After Bisil, drivers will tackle the iconic Guru Nanak Rally in Kiambu on November 4-5 and the new Kenya Racing Team round on December 2-3 at Stoni Athi.
KNRC STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6
- Jasmeet Chana 171
2 Jeremiah Wahome 87
3 McRae Kimathi 79
4 Kush Patel 66
5 Nikhil Sachania 44
5= Izhar Mirza 44
7 Carl Tundo 39
8 Karan Patel 34
9 Amman Shah 33
10 Hamza Anwar 26
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