CHAMP CHANA QUITS 2WD

"Time comes in life when one needs a fresh impetus in life. But it’s a really good feeling because I was able to prove my critics wrong when they said my championship win in 2007 was an easy ride. But I am glad I’m ready for change. Due to the global situation it’s not quite feasible for use to invest in a group N car," said Yana Tyres –sponsored driver who came home third in Vipingo Ridge during the KCB S&L Rally.

The Two-Wheel Drive title went down to the wire when the VW Golf of Chana went through a fuel distribution problem and had to fight it out with last year champion Leo Varese on home stretch.

Interestingly, Munir Khan (Toyota) was the winner of the 2WD class of Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) round but had to contend with playing second fiddle to Chana who claimed a second career title. It was Munir’s maiden win since joining Formula Two this year.

KCB 2010 SAFARI RALLY LAUNCH

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TUNDO OFF TO FLYING START

A febrile Carl “Flash” Tundo launched his 2010 KNRC title defense in awesome fashion around Kerio Valley incidentally defending the KCB Biashara Banking Rally in the championship winning Mitsubishi Evolution 9.

The Lanet based farmer had his campaign effectively sewn up when speedster Lee Rose was wrong slotted first time round on the 21.6km CS1 Sergoit-Iten stage before retiring in first service in Iten with mechanical gremlins. Rose resorted for Atul Kochhal when his regular navigator Piers Daykin was held up in Timau.

The victory in the Western Kenya Motor Club organized season-opener was a flawless way for Tundo to start his KNRC defense apparently with the 33mm restrictor increase FIA has allowed effective 2010.

 Spectators and rally officials were able to keep abreast with conditions on the ground thanks to internet service provider partner i-Way Africa and Car Track who are tracking the event real time online.

Five time Kenya Champion Ian Duncan romped home second interestingly on his first event after the dropping of the 2percent penalty.

Third was 1999 Kenya Champion Alastair Cavenagh who had to contend with two punctures on the first loop. Baldev Chager came home 4th with Asad Khan taking fifth overall.

This was Tundo’s seventh win in the Mitsubishi Evolution 9 he acquired from the South African Rally Chicks Lola and Meagan Varlaque last season and crowned it with victory in the Eldoret round last season. Tundo was all smiles as cars pulled in to the Iten service park: “It was a hair-raising event through quite a bit of traffic on the way. It was actually difficult to gauge the speed if there is more power (in the increased restrictor size) as it pulls a lot more on the top end,” Tundo commented.

Sam and munir Beaming after a winning drive in Eldoret

CHANGE OF NAVIGATORS FOR RALLY

Eldoret City was abuzz with acitivity with a massive change of navigators expected to add some fresh zest to the KCB Biashara Banking Rally.

The Rally will be flagged off by area MP William Ruto at 7am on Sunday outside  the KCB Eldoret West Branch along Uganda Road. They will encounter a 14Km liasion distance through to CS1 (21Km) Sergoit-Iten stage and onward to the Iten football ground for first service.

After yesterday’s heavy downpour, drivers and navigators sounded quite ferbrile in the wake of an early morning reconainsance with the general impression being that the all-weather roads around the Kerio  Valley would be passable.

Organiser Bipin Taylor was equally optimistic that the rains would make the roads even better.

It will be interesting though, seeing how veteran drivers would adjust as they plot to bond with their new navigators.

Lee Rose had to change his navigator after his Timau based partner Piers Daykin was held up at work.

Rose will instead sit with Atul Kochhal who incidentaly won the muddy rally in Athi River in 2007.

Alastair Cavenagh, the 1999 Kenya Champion, has resorted to Gavin Laurence after Mombasa based Saleem Haji opted out due to pressing comittments.