NAIVASHA, Kenya, Apr 23 – The Kabras Racing team of Onkar Rai and his British partner Drew Sturrock were the first to get the finish line in the qualifying stage of the 2021 ARC Equator Rally that was flagged off by the Cabinet Secretary of Sports, Culture and Heritage Amina Mohamed on Friday at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute in Naivasha.
Driving a VW Polo R5, Onkar recorded the best time of 4m15.2 over the 5.40km Loldia stretch.
Loldia formed the highlight of Friday’s program which also entailed the early morning free practice and preceded by shakedown and later ceremonial start that was overseen by the Cabinet Secretary of Sports who was accompanied by Principal Secretary State Department of Sports, Culture and Heritage Joe Okudo, PS Culture and Heritage Josephta Mukobe and Phineas Kimathi who is the CEO of the WRC Safari Rally.
Others who accompanied Amina were his two Chief Administration Secretary, Zak Kinuthia and Simon Kachapin.
Rising star Karan Patel was second fastest in his Ford Fiesta R5 while Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo on his very first outing with the VW Polo R5 was third fastest in a time of 4m23s.3.
South Africa’s Guy Botterill was the top placed foreigner in fourth, clocking 4m28.2 in his Toyota Etios.
Baldev Chager ruled the National Category in a time of 4m26s.7 followed by Eric Bengi (5m01.5) and Ian Duncan (5m10s.7).
QUALIFYING STAGE RESULTS
Onkar Rai KEN (VW Polo R5) 14m15s.2
2. Karan Patel KEN (Ford Fiesta R5) 4m19s.6
3. Carl Tundo KEN (VW Polo R5) 4m23s.3
4. Guy Botterill RSA (Toyota Etios R5) 4m28.2
5. Tejveer Rai (VW Polo R5) 4m43s.5
