NAIROBI, October 30 – Rookie Quentin Mitchell has pulled out of this weekend’s KCB Visa card Rally.
The 21 year old cited financial constraints for his withdrawal from the penultimate round of this year’s Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series.
“We regret to announce that we will not be competing in the KCB Visa Card Rally in Mombasa due to budgetary restraints. We are very sorry to all of those concerned including our sponsors Virgin Atlantic and our fans,” said Quinton.
Quentin who was seeded 15th at the weekend’s action, has been one of the most consistent drivers this season this year having posted a 100 percent finish record and some impressive stage times on his debut season in KNRC.
Quentin, however added that he will be back for the season ending KCB Guru Nanak rally.
“We are working on the setup in order to get the most out of the car for the final event. I will be down in Mombasa servicing for another team should anyone needed to contact me,” said Quentin.
Quentin graduated from autocross driver this season and has gone to until last season.
He made his debut in the 2008 KCB KNRC in an ex-Asad Anwar Mitsubishi EVO 7 during the KCB Simba Savings Rally in April.
Quentin plans to join the under 27 driver PIRELLI/FIA Star Drivers Promo in 2009.
He made history last year when he and Russell Savage became the youngest pair of competitors at the 2007 Kenya Airways Safari Classic driving a British sports car from the 1960s, a Triumph GT6.
They had a total of 43 years in the KQ Classic Safari; their combined age was then one year less than Hannu Mikkola’s age when he won the Safari Rally in 1987 for Audi.
Meanwhile, Charles Hinga renews his rivalry Leonardo Varese in the Formula Two class.
Hinga is set to make amends for his woes at KCB S&L Rally where he rolled and lost his lead to Leo Varese.
Behind their title aspirations is outgoing champion Jasmeet Chana (VW Golf GTi) who is out of contention and has nothing to lose.
Hinga will be first on the road in a Toyota Levin teaming up with Evans Mwenda. Varese takes off second followed by Chana and Adnan Suhail who will be driving an ex- Martin Gitata Daihatsu.
“Mombasa should determine the course for the championship. The roll in Olepolos was a major drawback but we have picked ourselves up and focused for greater things at the Coast,” said Hinga.
Leo Varese is leaving nothing to chance. “There are no two ways about it. We just have to attack and keep Hinga at bay,” Leo said. Leo teams up with his former schoolmate Kagondu Kareithi in a VW Golf GTi.
Hinga felt the heat of leading the 2WD Rally Championship by rolling his Toyota Levin in the Oletepesi stage, luckily Hinga and Evans Mwenda escaped unhurt. But it cost the pair there Championship lead which they had comfortably held from first round.
Hinga’s roll at the KCB S&L allowed Varese to storm to his to his second win in a row and take the Championship lead by 7 Points with two rounds remaining.
2WD STANDINGS
1. Leo Varese 102
2. Charles Hinga 95
3. Leamy Karienye 78
4. Jasmeet Chana 56
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