SURPRISES GALORE AS LEO, SOMEN, ISSA TRIUMPH IN NYERI

Its turning out to be one of the most exciting rally seasons with good-humored rivalries amongst drivers already serving up great moments ahead for rally lovers. Rightly so, the Jade Petroleum sponsored former two times 2WD Champion Leonardo Varese and his partner Kigo Kareithi were back in the groove as the season opening KCB Micro Banking Rally culminated in awesome fashion at the Mt. Kenya region on Sunday.

After flag-off by area MP Esther Mirugi on Saturday, Nyeri Country was indeed a beehive of activities at Ruring'u Stadium super special stage which has not only the talk of town but the venue where thousands of spectators gathered in their hordes to view some scintillating high octane action. Fans were treated to some exhilarating displays of rallying artistry but the end result was a tale of surprises and speed. Jonathan Somen, the CEO of Access Kenya Ltd surprised all and sundry when he won the KCB Classic Car Cup.

He beat Aslam Khan who incidentally is the CEO of ALS; the official chopper providers of  the KNRC. Khan is the KMSF 2011 motor personality of the year. Surprises didn't just end there. Issa Amwari navigated by Job Njiru won the KCB Group S Class which is incorporating the SPV (Specially Prepared Vehicles) cars this season. Varese was happy to have vanquished current Champion James Kirimi in the 2WD tussle.

"The route had everything from twists, tights, rocks to exciting  flat-outs. The only problem though was that when we reached 5 meters from the finish our fan stopped working suddenly and overheated but luckily we reached service. I must admit at this juncture that I'm looking forward to Nakuru. I'm happy to be back on top of things and to have won anyway. It was a new tough  challenge going the full route. The car behaved really good. We took it cautiously and had a nice battle with Kirimi. This sets up nicely for a long season ahead," said Varese. The battle of the Toyota Vitz dubbed "The Baby Class" caused quite a stir in Nyeri but it was Sammy Nyorri who had the last laugh against Mombasa based Victor Okundi. "I have really enjoyed... The baby car is as reliable as I have always believed. We had no major mechanical problems but  got a puncture on CS9 and the exhaust pipe suffered proper beating on the rocks and gave in loosing power. The surface on most sections was too rough  for the Vitz," said Nyorri.

Okundi was all smiles in the other Vitz. This is the first time the Vitz make of Toyota entered a national rally event in Kenya. The first time ever was late last year when Okundi launched his in the MMC Coast Rally Championship. "We picked a puncture on CS2- the canceled one (lucky for us) -and that made us take the rally cautiously though sometimes we would just fall short of exuberance. But Mutuma was quick to bring back sense in the car on such occasions. But the rally wasso much  fun," said Okundi. The next event is the KCB Biashara Banking Rally in Marigat and Mogotio on March 10.

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

2WD

1. Leonardo Varese 01:34:23

2. James Kirimi 01:34:25

3. Dennis Mwenda 01:36:15

4. Nadeem Kana 01:43:14

5. Sammy Nyorri 01:44:59

6. Patrick Kibaara 01:46:24

7. Victor Okundi 01:46:58

8. Dalbir Thethy 01:48:58

N CLASS

1. Carl Tundo 01:08:51

2. Ian Duncan 01:10:32

3. Alastair Cavenagh 01:12:29

4. Baldev Chager 01:12:45

5. Azar Anwar 01:14:03

6. Hardeep Rehsi 01:15:28

7. Onkar Rai 01:16:15

8. Manvir Baryan 01:17:01

9. Don Smith 01:21:21

10. Sandeep Jandu 01:21:40

11. Jaspreet Chathe 01:21:53

12. Fahd Bary 01:22:44

13. Ben Muchemi 01:25:26

14. Raaji Bharij 01:28:41

15. Nishit Shah 01:32:05

16. Charles Hinga 01:41:35

CLASSIC CAR CUP

1. Jonathan Somen 01:24:03

2. Aslam Khan 01:32:57

3. Samit Ghelot 01:35:10

S CLASS

1. Issa Amwari 01:22:21

2. Mahesh Halai 01:29:14

3. John Muigai 01:30:41

4. Joel Muchiri 01:32:01

5. Hussein Malik 01:38:36

6. Jasmeet Chana 01:39:19

7. Rashid  Kabi 01:40:27

OVERAL FASTEST STAGE TIME. (N,S,CLASSIC,2WD)

CS1- Alistar 00:01:09

CS3-Ian 00:06:19

CS4- Carl 00:06:28

CS5-Carl 00:01:40

CS6-Carl 00:05:40

CS7-Carl 00:07:17

CS8-Hardeep 00:08:34

CS9-Carl 00:09:23

CS10- Alisatr 00:01:04?

CS11-Alistar 00:05:43

CS12-Alistar 00:07:10

CS13- Carl 00:08:41