DRIVERS HONOUR COMRADES

DRIVERS will wear black armbands in honour of three fallen rally stalwarts during Sunday’s KCB Micro Banking Rally in Thika.

Kenya Rally Drivers Association (KRDA) Chairman Abdul Sidi said the initiative is meant to show drivers’ solidarity for the late Harbhajan Saimbi (rally volunteer and former driver), KNRC navigator Champion Farak Yusuf and Riyaz Kurji who was killed in a car crash at the KCB Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally on May 2.

Sidi said competitors will also display stickers in honor of the trio.  “Drivers have agreed to wear black armbands in the memories of the biggest names in motorsports. Cars will also carry stickers bearing the message ‘’Rallying in loving memory of Farak Yusuf  and Riiyaz Kurji.  KRDA remembers both Kurji and Farak as important former members especially Farak as vice chairman,” said Sidi.

Asad Anwar will be the first one off the ramp navigated by Kashif Sheikh and followed by KNRC series leader Carl Tundo (EVO9). Veteran Azar Anwar and Ian Duncan follow in the order. Ugandan speed merchant Emmanuel Katto returns to Kenya after the KCB Safari Rally.

Katto who participated at the recent Pearl of Africa rally teams up with Tanzania based Ugandan Moses Matovu.

The 2WD is expected to produce fireworks with defending champion Leo Varese hoping to make up for his false start in the season.

Series leader Charles Hinga says he is hoping for a Fast and clean.  “I want to remain on top of the leaderboard,” Hinga said. He predicts stiff opposition from the likes of Leo, 2007 Champion Jasmeet Chana and Leamy Karienye.

“They are all very good drivers and I should not ignore them at all.  However, luckily, for me Leamy does not have any points so he has a lot of catching up to do pointwise.  Leo is also a bit far behind.  Last year he proved he can catch up easily.  Jasmeet is too near me.  I have to run away as fast as possible from him pointwise.  I will try to get a win or two to ensure I have a big gap between us,” Hinga said.

 Hinga reckons he has learnt to keep away pressure. 

“I have also learnt to drive with my head and not my foot.  I will also ensure car is well prepared to avoid a Mombasa where our engine failed in the first 10KM.  Hope this time no mistake,” he added.

PROVISIONAL START LIST KCB KNRC

1.Asad Anwar /Kashif Sheikh (EVO 9), 2. Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (EVO9), 3. Azar Anwar/ Julius Ngigi (EVO 8), 4. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Nissan Patrol), 5. Alastair Cavenagh / Saleem Haji (EVO 9), 6. Baldev Chager /Raju Sehmi (Subaru 12), 7. Emmanuel Katto/Moses Matovu (Subaru N14), 8. Peter Horsey / Crispin Sassoon (EVO 9), 9. Alfir Khan/Feisal Khan (Subaru Impreza), 10. Alex Horsey/Andrew Doig (EVO 8), 11. Asad Khan/Charles Kibue  (Subaru N10), 12. Anwar Pandya/George Mwangi (Subaru N10), 14. Raaji Bharij /  Kishan Bhanderi (Subaru Impreza N10); 15. Jaswinder Chana/Ravi Chana (Toyota Celica GT4), 16. Dinesh Sachania/Kiran Patel (EVO6), 17. Izhar Mirza / Arshad Khan EVO9(), 18. Ben Muchemi /George Njoroge (Subaru N10), 19. Kirit Rajput/Ravi Soni (Subaru N10); 20. Robert Gow/Norris Ongalo (Subaru Impreza), 21.Quentin Mitchell / Tim Challen (EVO9), 22. Kunal Pattni/Bharat Pattni (Subaru N10), 23. Imran Mogul/Atul Kochal (Subaru Impreza), 24. Ghalib Hajee/   Karthikheyan Acharia (Suabru N10), 25.Hussein Malik/ George Kiama (Subaru Impreza), 26. Giancarlo  Ciaraldi / Anita Irwin (EVO9), 27. Aslam Khan/ Farhaaz Khan (Ford Escort RS), 28. Iain Freestone/ Gianluca Ciaraldi (Ford Escort), 29. Rommy Bamrah/Harvinder Juthley (Datsun 240Z), 30. Sandeep  Jandu/Gurdeep Mahangra (Subaru Impreza), 31. Randeep Lochab/Jasmeer Choda (Subaru N10), 32. Stefano Rocca/Franco Donadel (Datsun 260Z), 33. Said Hamad /Victor Okundi (Subaru N6), 34. Steve Gacheru /D.S Sehmi (Subaru Impreza), 35. Rex Omolleh/David Njenga (Subaru Legacy), 36. Quentin  Savage/Russell Savage (VW Golf GTi), 37. Abdul Rahman/ Tauseef Khan (Subaru Impreza),38. Keval  Maisuria /TBA   (Subaru Impreza).

2WD

Charles Hinga/Evans Mwenda (Toyota Levin), Jasmeet Chana/Sudhir Thatti (VW Golf), Leo Varese/K Kareithi (VW Golf), Adnan Suhail/Zahir Shah (Daihatsu Special), James Kirimi/Dennis Kinoti (VW Golf GTi), Gurmit Thethy/Depinder Kalsi (VW GHolf), Ishpal Bilkhu/P Sembi (Toyota Levion), Munir Khan/Sam Jethwa (Toyota Levin).