NAIROBI, March 12 – Series leader Steve Anthony is among top drivers who have signed up for Sunday’s Kenya National Autocross Championship series.
Defending Champion Ian Duncan is expected back after skipping the opening round and so is a huge chunk of youngsters attempting to take the autocross scene by storm.
Ashlin Bendin who came close to winning the opening round will also miss the rest of the season and will take up a familiar position next reason after returning from Italy where he works as a captain.
“Unfortunately I will not be able to participate but will do a couple of rounds next season,” Bending said after taking part in the FINA Bank Cross-country Challenge Rally at Selengai on March 1.
The 17 year-old Arthur Kinyanjui “AK 47” is also set to participate in the Sunday showdown with verve and ecstasy. “Jamhuri park calls for a very technical drive owing to the fact that it has some very tight spots that you really must come out gallantly,” Kinyanjui said.
Sixteen year old Ken Anunda returns to the scene after a rather satisfactory performance last month. Rally navigator Keith Henrie hopes to make his second appearance at buggies. Henrie who navigates for Yogesh Patel in the Kenya National rally Championship clung to third on his debut says he has now come to terms with his ‘Attacker 1’ buggy.
Others expected are Jeremy Andrade, rally ace Izar Mizra, Tanveen Oshan, Abdi Ganatra, Bob Sehmi, Charles Mugo, Amit Bhat , Karan Rathod , Samir Khan, Vicky Berha and Sukhi Parma.
Steve Anthony won the opening round by the skin of his teeth when earlier pacesetter Bendin ran into mechanical gremlins.
Anthony Nielsen who is away attending to pressing job commitments will be the notable absentee.
Nielsen was at the venue to impart valuable experience and moral support to the juniors. “I plan to do selected autocross races this season. I will not ride in the motocross circuit- though I intend to do the cross-country and enduro,” said Nielsen.
Bendin set the fastest time in the early morning practice run with a clear 7seconds from Anthony.
Though Bendin upheld the tempo into the preceding two heats, his bad run in the third heat gave Anthony leeway to realize the Fastest Time of the Day (FTD) with 4.49.05minutes in his run.
