NAIROBI, Kenya, June 16 – Carl Tundo will lead 31 other entries off the ramp in Saturday’s Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Easy Pay Loan rally at Mogotio.
The fourth round of the KCB Kenya national Rally Championship is expected to be a straight duel between locals Tundo and Lee Rose who will start the rally in sixth place.
“The rally is based in and around the sisal estates and is bound to be a challenging rally,” said outgoing Kenya Motorsport Foundation general manger Achie Khan at the rally’s press briefing on Tuesday.
“Last year Rose retired after getting stuck in a river and as a result he lost the overall championship which shows that the rally can go either way,” he added.
Former champion Azar Anwar will set off in second place in a Mitsubishi EVO 8 with fellow rally legend Ian Duncan following in third.
“I’m looking forward to Nakuru. We hope we can maintain the same pace that we had in Thika and also show the young drivers that we are not over the hill yet,” said Azar who is currently third on the championship standings.
Azar is not overawed by the advantage by the home advantage in favour of Rose and Tundo.
“I also grew up in Nakuru which makes me know the area quite well so I don’t think I’ll be up against it that much,” said the rally veteran.
The rally which has a competitive section of 171 kilometres will be flagged off outside the KCB Nakuru Branch early Saturday morning.
Scrutineering and perc ferme will be at the Nakuru National Oil Filling station.
Course clerk and former rally driver Frank Tundo said that Saturday’s route will be similar to last year’s with some stags being run in the opposite direction and few stretches introduced.
“In order to confine fans to some hair raising thrills, organizers have set up a designated 4.9 km stage,” said Tundo.
Alphega will host the service area while the spectator stage will be repeated thrice prior to the finish at the Rift Valley Motor Sports Club (RVMSC) club house.
Charles Hinga will be out to consolidate his lead of the two wheel drive (2WD) category which he tops with 51 points.
Hinga faces a strong challenge from Jasmeet Chana and defending champion Leo Varese who are second and third respectively on the standings.
