NAIROBI, Kenya 21st August – Legendary driver Ian Duncan, two-times Champion Alastair Cavenagh and Safari Rally winner Carl “Flash” Tundo are among 57 drivers who have entered this weekend’s KCB Advantage Banking Rally in Nanyuki, Timau and Loldaiga.
Of the 57, 25 will participate in Group N class, 13 in Two-Wheel Drive, three in the Classic Car Cup, two in the SPV (Specially Prepared Vehicle) and 14 in Group S.
The Nanyuki Rally Group (NRG) organized event is the sixth round of the Kenya National Rally Championship. This is indeed the second biggest entry this year after the Diamond Jubilee Safari Rally which attracted 84 drivers. The season opening Nyeri tour had 53 entries, Nakuru 54 and Mombasa 55.
The NRG round welcomes two Nairobi-based newcomers in Jeff Mburu and Caroline Gatimu.
Gatimu becomes the latest female driver to join the ever rising numbers in the participation of women crew.
Like the “Haraka Mamas“, “Warembo Bila Mekap” and the “Rally Queens” who are currently taking local rally scene by storm, Gatimu and the likes of Tash Di Cangio are among the women making deeper inroads into mastering what has been perceived to be a male dominated sport.
“I love the fact that there are so many women now involved and being taken seriously, I mean Bella (Erskine) coming second in Mombasa last month was just fantastic – its so nice to have all the ladies there as growing up I only remember a couple,” said Tash.
Tash, daughter of the famous Tundo family, made her debut in the sport when she navigated his father Frank and guided him to fifth place during last year’s KCB Mtaani Rally in Mariakani in December 2011.
Mburu, son of former F2 Champion Peter Mburu has entered his father’s ex-Toyota Levin navigated by Rodney Muriuki. Gatimu, on the other hands, teams up with Linet Ayuko in Dennis Mwenda’s VW Golf Gti.
Making a comeback is former F2 contender Munir Khan who is returning from sabbatical with his ex-Jasmeet Chana VW Golf.
Denis Mwenda has a new car and is determined to ruffle feathers in Nanyuki. He has acquired a 2000 model Toyota Sprinter GT which is a 1600cc 20-Valve machine with a 6-speed gearbox.
“We have put in some good work in it. It has built by Multi Dimensional Engineering of Imran Mogul. We have done some tests and we are happy with the performance so far but proper testing ground is Nanyuki rally,” said Mwenda.
NRG announced they will run two Competitive Stages on Friday instead of the usual one as earlier planned as clerk of the Course, Nazir Nakub added they are in the process of finalizing preparations.
“This you will agree, presents a unique challenge – but we believe we have managed to address any issues that have cropped up,” explained Nazir.
Nazir said that the Friday run will Start at 13.30hrs and proceed to the first Competitive Stage of 18km in Gathiuru followed by a 45 minutes holding before completing the Batian View Spectator Stage of 5km.
“As per our Itinerary, the last 10 cars may be running after 1800 hrs into the Spectator Stage even if we reduce or indeed do away with the holding period,” continued Nazir, adding: “Thereafter the cars will go into a 20 minutes service and head for the Parc Ferme at Sportsmans Arms Hotel.
The rally will revolve around Timau, Loldaiga and the Gathiuru forest.
ENTRY LIST
Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (EVO9); Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (EVO9); Alastair Cavenagh/Gavin Laurence (EVO9); Baldev S. Chager/R. Sehmi (Subaru N16); Peter Horsey/Bella Erskine (EVOX); Azar Anwar/Julius Ngige (EVO8); Quentin Mitchell/Chris Davis (Subaru N16); Raaji Bharij/Geoff Mayes (EVO9); Hardeep Rehsi/Ravi Soni (EVO9); Onkar Rai/Raju Chagger (Subaru N16); Izhar Mirza/Zahir Shah (EVO9); Frank Tundo/Natasha De Cangio (EVO9); Don Smith/Bob Kaugi (Subaru 12); Charles Hinga/Job Njiru (EVO7); Imran Mogul/Atul Kocchar (SubaruN12); Jaswinder Chana/Ravi Chana (Toyota Celica GT4); Manvir S. Baryan/Nicola Arena-Italy (Subaru); Tejvir Rai/George Mwangi (Subaru 16); John Nganga/George Njoroge (Subaru N10); Jasmeet Chana/Rohit Bhudia (Toyota Celica GT4); Ben Muchemi/Evans Mwenda (EVO7); Jaspreet S. Chathe/Gugu Panesar (EVO9); Ghalib Haji/Sinder Sudle (EVOX); FahdBary/Shameer Yusuf (EVO9); John Muigai/ Allan Muhindi (Subaru); Edward Maina/Tonny Kimondo (Toyota Celica GT4); Samira Khan/Chantal Young(Ford Escort MK1); Mahesh Halai/Ketan Halai (Subaru); Jonathan Somen/Richard Helche (Ford Escort MK2); Joel Muchiri/Riyaz Ismail (Subaru); Stella Macharia/Hellen Shiri (Subaru); Hussein Malik/Stephen Nganga (Subaru); Issa Amwari/Linet Ayuko (Subaru); Aslam Khan/Imran Khan (Porsche 911); Farhaaz Khan/Kavit Dave (Subaru); Nzioka Waita/Laban Cliff (Subaru); Aakif Virani/Tausef Khan (Subaru N10); Alasdar Keith/Tariq Malik (Subaru); Shaheed Wissanji/Mo Verje (Subaru); Rashid Kabi/Nehreen Ismail (Subaru); Mohammed Noormohammed/Hassan Saleh (Subaru); Devan Bhundia/Jasneil Ghataure (Subaru); Manik Chodah/Elodie Sampere (Toyota L/C); Gurmit Thethy/Depinder Kalsi (VW Golf); Leonardo Varese/Kigo Kareithi (VW Golf); James Kirimi/Jonathan Kosgey (VW Golf); Patrick Kibaara/Julius Mwachuya (T. Levin); Nadeem Kana/James Mwangi (Subaru); Dennis Mwenda/Edward Njoroge (Toyota Sprinter); Joan Nesbitt/Tamara Jones (Toyota Tercel); Munir Khan/Rita Khan (VW Golf); Jeff Mburu/Rodney Muriuki (Levin); Victor Okundi/Tuta Mionki (T.Vitz); ; Rajbir Rai/Supee Soin (VW Golf); Sammy Nyorri/Steven Nyorri (T. Vitz); Caroline Gatimu/Linet Ayuko (VW Golf).
