NAIROBI, Kenya, October 17- After 11 years of trying Alastair Cavenagh’s fearless and flat-out mode of driving finally came to fruition on Sunday when he laid his hands on his second career KCB Kenya National Rally Championship.
Cavenagh last won the KNRC title in 1999 in a Subaru Impreza navigated by Crispin Sassoon, a championship win that was followed by several gremlins including accidents and plentiful woes.
“We had such a good fight with Duncan after I led in the first two stages and he came back forcibly to take the lead,” said Cavenagh.
For once, Cavenagh put behind the nasty roll he encountered in Nanyuki Rally a couple of years back when he destroyed his Evolution Mitsubishi upon an impact with the bridge barrier in Kabartonjo.
And fears that the title chase could go down to the wire evaporated soon enough when Subaru speedster Baldev Chager kissed the Ganze tour goodbye with a broken suspension arm in the early morning run.
Ian Duncan was all smiles in his massive Nissan Pickup when he won the KCB Amana Banking Rally in Ganze posting 1.41.39hours.
Cavenagh (Mitsubishi EVO9) romped home second overall in 1.42.56 hours with his Dalbit Petroleum teammate Carl Tundo completing the podium dash in a time of 1.44.24hours.
Duncan’s win was a somewhat unbearable experience to the Evolution 9 Mitsubishi make which had won 17consecutive KNRC rallies.
Duncan who last won Mombasa Rally in 2000 navigated by Dave Williamson in a Toyota Celica gave the Nissan make its first ever win at the Coast event.
Cavenagh was overjoyed when he drove into the ceremonial finish situated adjacent to the service Park at Ganze Secondary School. This was Cavenagh’s first finish in Mombsa Rally in 10 years.
Lee Rose watched in disbelief when he registered his fifth retirement of the season. Bldev Chager also retired with a broken suspension arm while Ugandan Jas Mangat rolled on CS5 while chasing a podium position. Mangat was lying third as at CS4.
Ponsiano Lwakataka of Uganda also retired when h went off the bridge and broke the tie rod. Newly crowned Ugandan Champion Nasser Mutebi finished 10th overall.
“We won the Ugandan championship last week and we have just come to celebrate,” said Mutebi who was the only finisher amongst the four Ugandans .
KNRC STANDINGS AS AT RD 7
Alastair Cavenagh 490points
Ian Duncan 363
Baldev Chager 315
PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULTS
KNRC
1. Ian Duncan (Nissan Hardbody PU) 1.41.39hours
2. Alastair Cavenagh (Mitsubishi EVO9)1.42.56
3. Carl Tundo (Mitsubishi EVO9) 1.44.24
4. Azar Anwar (EVO8) 1.45.11
5. Peter Horsey (EVO9) 1.48.48
6. Ronald Sebuguzi 1.55.32
7. Asad Khan (Subaru N10) 1.55.57
8. Izhar Mirza (EVO9) 1.56.05
9. Adnan Din (Subaru Forester)1.58.28
10. Nasser Mutebi 2.00.48
11. Ben Muchemi (Subaru) 2.02.20
12. Nausahd Kara (Subaru N12) 2.03.00
13. Said Hamad (Subaru N10) 2.03.31
14. Khuram Bhutt (Subaru N10) 2.05.24
14. Adin Haq (Subaru) 2.06.59
16. Shazar Anwar (Hybrid PU)2.12.11
17. Saneep Jandu (Subaru N10)2.15.25
18. Issa Amwari (Subaru) 2.24.46
19. Ramesh Vishram (Subaru Forester) 2.25.06
20. Paras Pandya (Subaru) 2.26.03
21. Khalid Umar Subaru) 2.35.24
22. Anthony Tibo (Subaru) 3.17.51
23. GHalib Haji (Subaru) 5.34.47
2WD
1.Adnan Suhail (Daihatsu) 57.36
2. Leo Varese (VW Golf) 57.49
3. Deep Chana (VW Glf) 58.29
4.Munir Khan (Toyota Levin) 1.00.09
5.Joel Muchiri (Toyota Levin) 1.05.41
6. Jitendra Davda (Toyota Marino) 1.08.24
7. Nadeem Kana (VW Golf GTi) 1.09.55
8. yunis hamza (Toyota Starlet) 1.43.52
9. Naveed Khalid (Toyota Starlet) 1.45.08
