MOGOTIO, Kenya, Aug 1 – The 1999 Champion Alastair Cavenagh claimed his second successive win of the season as the KCB Micro Banking Rally came to a dramatic close at the Mogotio Eco Tourism Centre.
Teaming up with Gavin Laurence in a Mitsubishi EVO9, Cavenagh drove into the Mogotio finish ramp overjoyed that his title fortunes were now stronger than ever.
After five rounds of brilliant display, Cavenagh leads the KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series by 350points against Baldev Chager’s 275.
Rally officials and teams had a fabulous moment as they kept abreast of proceedings live. Car Track were tracking movement of all rally cars viewed from the rally HQs in real time.
Jade Petroleum ace Leo Varese once again lived up to expectation when he completed a hat trick of wins in the Formula Two class.
Navigated by Kigondu Kareithi in a VW Golf Gti, Leo took full advantage of Adnan Suhail’s 2.50minutes penalty incurred when the latter checked out of service late.
Otherwise, Adnan was well on course for great things, only to learn that the time penalty was too costly.
In the main class, Lee Rose started off very well apparently elated with the commanding lead he posted coming into first service. After the early morning three stages in Rongai, Rose was 2.31minutes ahead of Cavenagh- but not until gremlins set in.
“We started off well but punctured on the fourth section. We also lost brakes in the long stage (CS6),” Rose said.
Cavenagh backed off in the opening stage but was on top of things when Rose slipped to third in second service.
Second overall was Lee Rose followed Baldev Chager. Anthony Nieslen registered his career best KNRC performance in 4th overall place.
Chager had a positive feeling after Friday’s recce but spun thrice after losing traction control on hisN12 Subaru. “We went off on the tall grass in Rongai but drove on a puncture in CS2 and likewise on CS3 stage,” said Chager.
Chager claimed second when Carl Tundo retired with engine problems in the latter stages.
The demanding nature of sections in Rongai and Mogotio was also unforgiving to many drivers. One of the nostalgic features in the 300km route course was the famous bridge, Daraja Ya Mungu located on the Tenges stage.
Outgoing KNRC Division Two Champion Asad Khan “Kalulu” kissed the Great Rift tour goodbye with gearbox problems while Ugandan Jas Mangat retired when his navigator Olivier Mangek fell ill in the early morning run.
Other casualties were the Yamakasi team of Paras Pandya and Roy McKenzie who had to contend with electrical problems.
Newcomer Raymond Kiruki in an ex-Azar Anwar Subaru Legacy retired in second service with a broken suspension as Mombasa based Khuram Bhutt also retired with mechanical problems.
Provisional KNRC
1. Alastair Cavenagh (EVO9) 1.47.39
2. Lee Rose (EVO9) 1.48.48
3. Baldev Chager (Subaru N12) 1.49.39
4. Anthony Nielsen (EVO9) 1.53.01
5. Imran Mogul (Subaru) 1.57.16
6. Hardeep S. Rehsi (Subaru) 2.00.16
7. Azar Anwar (EVO8) 2.0043
Provisional 2WD:
Leo Varese (VW Golf) 1.02.08
Adnan Suhail (Daihatsu) 1.04.16
James Kirimi (VW Golf) 1.06.08
Nadeem Kana (VW Golf Gti) 1.13.57
Munir Khan(Toyota Levin) 1.16.05
Gurmit Thethy (VW Golf Gti)1.17.58
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