With this weekend’s KCB Micro Banking Rally taking the 2010 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series to the fifth round, drivers remain enthusiastic of their run in the second half of the season. Rightly so, mechanics are currently having a thorough going-over of their machines just to ensure all is well ahead of the Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club (RVM&SC) round of the KNRC.Alastair Cavenagh, winner of the Meru round and who currently leads the national series by 270 points, intends to add more victories to his belt before the end of the season.

 “It would be easy to back-off at this stage and just go for points rather than challenging to win rallies but that is not my style,” said the former 99 KNRC Champion.

“We are currently in a good position in the Championship, but truthfully, I would rather fight with the other top drivers for fastest stage times on the remaining events and try to win outright rather than playing it safe by backing off and just going for points,” continued Cavenagh.

Cavenagh anticipates stiff opposition from 2008 Champion, Baldev Chager, his Dalbit Petroleum teammate Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, double Champion Lee Rose and 2006 Safari rally winner Azar Anwar. Kenyan Pirelli Star Drive recipient Peter Horsey will be the notable absentee in Mogotio.

Horsey, born in Kenya but now based in Uganda, and Ruthin resident Calvin Cooledge aim to use the experience of contesting the recent Rally Estonia  to good effect when the pair tackle this weekend’s high speed World Rally Championship Neste Oil Rally Finland in their Ralliart Italy run Mitsubishi Evo X.
The 2WD Class is also anticipated to produce fireworks. Series leader Leonardo Varese reckons that Munir Khan- who has the season opening Eldolret scalp under his belt- is steadily chalking up vital Championship points hence creating a formidable force that might not be overcome if not contained at this point in time.  With the current state of affairs, the 2008 2WD Champion feels he's compelled to keep ahead of Munir’s Toyota Levin no matter what.

“He (Munir) has improved tremendously these days and has a lot more experience with his Levin. I realize he's  got the pace to fight with us nowadays. When I won the Guru Nanak Rally last year, Munir came second by a huge gap of 8 minutes. These days it’s amazing that we’re fighting for seconds. But I am sure that Munir will come hard at us because he’ll be plotting to dislodge us from the top of the table. We have not pushed our VW Golf to full potential. We still have 20 percent to get better with but if push comes to shove, we’ll have room for improvement,” observed Leo.

Leo feels coming second behind veteran Peter Mburu is not a problem as he’s way behind in the Championship, “but second to Munir could be detrimental.”

Mogotio will also be without the all-ladies' crew amiably referred to as 'Warembo Bila Make-Up’. The ladies team comprises former five times Media Rally champion Jedidah Weru and her partner Stella Macharia. Stella will however be in the Mogotio apparently calling the pace-notes for a new driver.
"Yes, I’ll participate in Mogotio but not with Jedidah as usual. Jedidah's company is in the process of expanding and she is a bit too tied up," commented Stella.
For every event a navigator competes, he/she earns some championship points. To bag in on those points, Stella will incidentally navigate Issa Amwari. Issa drives a Subaru GC8 and this new partnership will be sponsored by Family Bank. Issa, a division 3 driver, was until the great rift tour navigated by Franklin Muthomi.
 

KNRC STANDINGS AFTER MERU

Alastair CAVENAGH       270

 Ian DUNCAN                  223

Baldev CHAGER              215

Carl TUNDO                     160

 Peter HORSEY                135

Lee ROSE                         120

Asad KHAN                      113

Asad ANWAR                  99

Ghalib HAJEE                  81

Azar ANWAR                  70