RAAJI READY FOR NEW RALLY SEASON

Nairobi based Raaji Bharij is all fired up and ready for the opening round of the 2012 KCB Kenyan National Rally Championship. With the new season beginning this weekend in Nyeri it presents a fresh start for Raaji who has had a change of car and co-driver during the off season. Raaji, who was the 2009 Pirelli Star Drive nominee from Kenya, will be armed with a top specification Mitsubishi Evo 9 from this event onwards. The car, which is a similar specification to that of the past three KNRC champions, has had an extensive rebuild over the past two months. Rajay Sehmi returns to the co-drivers seat to rekindle the successful partnership which saw the pair clinch the Pirelli nomination on their debut rally, the 2009 KCB Safari Rally.

Raaji; I am both excited and a bit anxious about this weekend. The new car is brilliant and such a step up from the trusty Subaru N10. I know we have the pace but to compete at the very top of this sport you need solid financial support and currently we are still in talks with sponsors. We will definitely do our best in Nyeri but I know I'm a bit rusty as I haven't rallied since June, but either way I'm sure we will have a lot of fun!

The Nyeri Rally begins with scrutineering on Saturday morning at the Greenhills Hotel in Nyeri. A 2pm ceremonial start from the KCB Branch will be followed immediately by a super special stage. The rally restarts at 8am on Sunday morning whereby the assembled crews will tackle 14 special stages around Nyeri before the ceremonial finish at the Ruringu Stadium later in the day.