Features

Foreign drivers arrive for 64th Safari Rally

Published

June 5, 2016

Jaspreet Singh Chatthe drives his Mitsubish EVO X through a water hole during the KCB Safari Rally. PHOTO/File

NAIROBI, Kenya, June 5 – Foreign competitors are in town well in time for the 64th KCB Safari Rally to be flagged off on Friday at Nairobi’s Kenyatta International Conference Center.

The ‘Flying Finn’ Tapio Kaukkanen and Canada based Moez Malik were among the foreign drivers who recced the route alongside locals at the weekend.

Toronto based Moez lived and competed in Kenya in the 80s and 90s before migrating to Canada.

Tapio, a former Finland and British rally champion has been competing in Kenya since 2012 and tackled the last two seasons of KNRC sweeping the grounds with all his opponents whenever he had a clean run.

The Flying Finn has literally swept the ground with all and sundry this season but lost his lead on the KNRC log after suffering double punctures on the initial and repeat run of Kobonyo stage in Kisumu.

Tapio who has also mentored several locals led the Safari last year in Mount Kenya region by a massive 5 minutes on penultimate day only to bow out when his service crew failed to reach the remote service in the required time.

Tapio will be navigated by compatriot Passi Torma in a Subaru Imprrza GVB 13 which is an R4 car.

Other drivers using R4 contraptions are Isaa Amwari (EVOX), Kabras Sugar Racing team of Baldev Chager, Onkar Rai and Tejveer Rai all in EVOX, and Team Kibos ace Jassi Chatthe also in a similar make.

This year’s Safari will see quite a number of drivers making a comeback. These are Quentin Mitchell and Kioni brothers David and Mwangi.

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Quentin was all smiles after reconnaissance.

“We are going to approach it like any other rally. We will take it as it comes and try to enjoy it as much as we can as it’s our first rally back this year and we have been out the car for 7months.”

“The Safari is always a highlight owing to several days of competition and the reputation the safari carries with it,” said Quentin.

Kioni brothers who are sons of Kenya Volleyball Federation Chairman Waithaka Kioni will pilot their Group S Subaru Impeza GC8 when the iconic event traverses private farm stages in Nairobi and Nakuru counties from Friday to Sunday.

The last time Kionis sat together was during the 62nd edition of the Safari Rally in 2014.

“It’s fantastic to be back in the GC8 and to sit with my brother again after two years,” said David.

David, who last competed in 2015 with James Mwangi Harrison hopes to shake off some cobwebs on his GC8.

David and Mwangi made their KNRC debut in Eldotet 2010 and have since competed in several KNRC events with other teams. Mwangi did the whole season with Kalulu last year and finished 2nd on the KNRC Division Two log.

“Our first rally in Eldoret is nevertheless something we would want to forget in a hurry as we kissed the Western Kenya Motor Club- organised rally upon crashing into a swamp. I am a bit rusty at the moment after skipping quite a number of rallies, but we just want to bring the GC8 back in one piece at KICC,” David Said.

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“We are hoping to have a steady run and remain consistent and just finish. I have been really itching to get back in the rally car. But due to lack of sponsorship we have been forced out of KNRC events so we are glad to take part in this Rally thanks to my family and friends and I am looking forward to having some great fun.”

KCB SAFARI RALLY 2016-SEEDED ENTRY LIST