Former Champs 'INVADE' 2wd Fray In 33rd Kcb Guru Nanak Rally
Having already taken some impressive scalps in hotly-contested showdowns previously, four former 2WD champions James Kirimi, Peter Mburu, Charan Thethy and Leonardo Varese are spoiling for a fight in the forthcoming 33rd KCB Guru Nanak Rally.
The season-ending event will be staged on gravel stages situated around Suswa and Kedong on the weekend of November 17-18.
Notable absentee is the newly crowned Mombasa-based 2WD Champion Nadeem Kana who has decided to give the Nanak tour "a wide berth" to adequately prepare for selected events next season.Fighting against the Champions will be Nairobi based Dennis Mwenda (Toyota Sprinter GT), Gurmit Thethy (VW Golf GTI) and Adnan Suhail (Daihastu Special) both who are in pursuit of rare hat-tricks.
The two-times 2WD Champion Jasmeet Chana has ruled out a comeback in 2WD despite putting final touches to his new VW Golf MKI 2WD Car he will be using in the Tanzanian version of the Guru Nanak Rally.
While Mwenda will be gunning for a third straight rally win of the season, Adnan will be going for his third KCB Guru Nanak Rally after emerging victorious in the 2010 and 2012 editions. Adnan hasn't rallied since winning the KCB Safari Rally in June.
Mwenda remained enthusiastic of his intended hat-trick despite the Champions' scare.
"I'm looking forward to the forthcoming Guru Nanak event. We are not under as much pressure as we were in Eldoret where we were out to prove our win in Nanyuki was no fluke. However we will be going for a podium regardless. A hat-trick would be nice. We want to cement our second position in the Championship. We will have a good fight now that we are expecting 2WD champs Leo, Kirimi, Charan, Mburu and Jasmeet Chana in the monster Golf. Speed guru Adnan Suhail is also around. This will be a big party," said Mwenda.
Two times champion Varese, on hhis part, has declared the 33rd Nanak Rally "the mother of all battles".
"We have lots of Champions this time round and whoever has a clean run will carry the day. Peter hasn't rallied for two years. Mwenda is enjoying a great run on his new Toyota Sprinter GT which has superior axles with stronger and bigger bearings. Adnan will be going for a hat-trick which we want to spoil," said Leonardo.
The 2003 champion Charan will drive a a standard 1500cc Daewoo which he has built at his Nairobi workshop while 2001 Champion Peter Mburuu hopes to dust off the cobwebs in his Toyota Levin.
"We have reinforced the body and fitted in a reliable roll cage. Basically, the car is still standard but I intend to upgrade it with Prolex suspensions and a Group A' engine. I have my options open at the moment and I believe no one will see this car next year," said Charan who won the 2WD Championship in the VW Golf GTI he sold to Leonardo.