TUNDO WINS IN KISUMU

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Dalbit-sponsored Carl Tundo Tundo scored his second win of the 2010 Kenya National Rally Championship series by clinching victory in the Kisumu’s round of the KCB Visa Card Rally yesterday.

The Nakuru-based wheat farmer was unconquerable in stages described by many as some of the wettest ever seen in the lakeside motor sport event.  

“I think we were just lucky to stay on track as some of the stages were really wet and slippery. The win gives me satisfaction after failing to finish the Safari Rally due to similar conditions,’’ said Tundo at the end of the rally.

He said the rally organizers needed to be commended for the good work of controlling the spectators and making the stages safe for all drivers. ‘’The weather conditions did not deter the drivers from having fun,’’ he said

Tundo’s Mitsubishi Lancer suffered an engine failure in the KCB Safari Rally after hitting a deep water hole which caused major electronic failure in the engine compartment.

Apart from KCB, the event was also supported by other sponsors such as National Oil Corporation, Iway Africa, Highlands, Identisys, Car Track and ALS.

Rains which have continued to pound major towns countrywide, played major havoc in bringing down some of the best rally drivers in the KNRC series.

Lee Rose, the defending KCB Safari Rally became the first victim of the treacherous conditions after his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO9 slid off the road in the second competitive stage through Awasi. He was a mere one second behind the leader at the time of the accident.

Even Ian Duncan’s Nissan Patrol, regarded by many as “tractor” through such conditions, found the going tough after sliding off in the same section.

“We must have lost about two minutes while trying to get back on the track after losing our way in of the most slippery sections of the whole rally,’’ said Duncan.

The National Oil-sponsored drivers finished in the third place while Pirelli Champion from the African Region, Peter Horsey finished in the top-10 position despite also loosing time after an “off’.

Alistair Cavenagh maintains the lead of the overall standings of the KNRC despite finishing in the second place.

Meanwhile, Leonardo Varese won his first rally of the 2010 National Formula Two Rally Championship by emerging Class winner of the KCB Visa Card Rally.

“I am very happy to have won the rally since last winning the Class in the 2009 Guru Nanak Rally. I am now looking at what I can share with my navigator with the prize money for winning stages,’’ said Varese.

Ksiumu offered cash prizes to drivers who were able to set quickest stage times during the course of the rally.

Peter Mburu finished in the second place after he lost time in the stage due to damaged rear shock absorbers.

He had looked at winning his straight F2 rally since returning to the competition after almost five years out of action. Driving a Daihatsu Charade, Mburu’s convincingly won the class in the recently concluded KCB Safari Rally.

Pace-setter and leader of the series before going into the Kisumu Rally, Munir Khan bowed of the event after his Toyota Levine suffered steering problem in the penultimate of the stage of the rally.

Adnan Suhail was placed in the third place driving Daihatsu Charade.

Provisional results: 1. Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (Mitsubishi EVO9) 102.26mins, 2. Alastair Cavenagh /Gavin Laurence (Mitsubishi EVO9) 105.43, 3. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Nissan Patrol) 106.47, 4. Baldev Chager/Raju Sehmi (Subaru Impreza N12) 107.44, 5. Jas Mangat/Leon Ssenyange (Subaru Impreza) 114.46, 6. Peter Horsey/Moses Matovu (Mitsubishi Lancer) 115.09, 7. Anthony Nielsen/ Mike Ogwapit (Mitsubishi Evo9) 117.02, 8. Asad Khan/Salim Khan (Subaru Impreza N10) 118.42, 9. Ghalib Haji/Sinder Sudle (Subaru Impreza N10) 119.05, 10. Jasmeet Chana/Sudhir Thatti (Toyota Celica GT4) 129.31, 11. Asad Anwar/Kashif Sheikh (Subaru P/Up) 130.13, 12. Azar Anwar/Julius Ngigi (Mitsubishi EVO8), 132.52, 13. Ben Muchemi/Bob Kaugi (Subaru Impreza N10) 137.41, 14. Alfir Khan/Mohamed Kana (Subaru Impreza) 194.27.

F2 Provisional Results:

 1. Leonardo Varese/Kigondu Kareithi (VW Golf Gti) 66.10mins, 2. Peter Mburu/Julie Mureithi (Toyota Starlet) 68.40, 3. Adnan Suhail/Mahesh Saleh (Daihatsu Charade) 75.41