KEITH LEADS AS  AUTOX5 CANCELLED

Series leader Keith Henrie dictated the pace as afternoon heavy downpour culminated into cancellation of the fifth round of the National Autocross Championship.The Kenya Motor Sports Club (KMSC)-organised  round was adjudged a "Mission Impossible" by race stewards when  Jamhuri  racetrack turned out to be waterlogged and "impossible" to navigate through.

It was then that all and sundry were compelled to leave the venue amidst "cats and dogs" downpour.  What this means is that the postponed fifth round meeting will now run as a double header together with the sixth round on July 24.It was a bitter pill for newcomers to  swallow as adverse weather conditions meant buggy exponents had no choice but  to cool their heals till next month.Photojournalist Geoff Mayes' long awaited debut started off on a gutless note when he had to contend with a miss earlier on.Raaji Bharij, one of the leading Sikh Kenyan drivers in the KNRC, only had a feel of the practice lap and one official heat before stewards called off the proceedings.

With overnight downpour rendering the track impassable, the afternoon sunny spells improved the situation quite a bit. The race prigramme was delayed to 1pm when conditions looked somewhat manageable but then afternoon showers aggravated track conditions prompting officials to end the proceedings prematurely. 

Among drivers who had turned up for the race included fast rising Samir Khan, Jazz Nandra, Mickey Hughes and youngsters Ken Anunda, Charles Mugo and Amonraj Rai, son of former two times rally champion Sarbi Rai.  Keith  who is chasing a maiden National Autocross  diadem still leads the nine leg series with 81 points.

"The race was cancelled after heat one because it began to rain heavily.  But until then, I was holding the fastest time. Track conditions were wet and muddy and kind of  tricky in some places, it is just unfortunate  that it was cancelled," said Keith, adding: "Vision also became blurry as mud covered the goggles."

 Bharij who finished sixth overall during the recent  KCB Safari last weekend had acquired the ex-Quentin Mitchell buggy that he briefly shared with Amardeep Shand. Both Amardeep and Bharij were making debuts along with Shahzim Ismail and  Mayes.

STANDINGS AS AT THE CANCELLED RACE

Keith Henrie 81points

Samir Khan 63

Charles Mugo 49

Ken Anunda 44

Steve Anthony 39