Its all systems go after 42 are cleared for Safari

The 64th KCB Safari Rally is all set for the Friday start in Nairobi after 42 cars were cleared to participate in the event that is expected to be flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta from Nairobi’s KICC Grounds.

Drivers and crew went through scruteenering on Thursday at the same venue where their shiny machines, fresh off garages for final tune ups were paraded for officials to see whether they are ready to take part in the Kenya National Rally Championships signature round that will be the third of the series.

The first car is scheduled to leave the ramp at 10am local time (+3GMT) and the competitors will head straight to Nairobi’s Jamhuri Park for a 2.2km Super Special Stage at the autocross track.

They will then embark on a 130km transport road section to Lake Elementaita Lodge for the overnight perc ferme (stay).

Lake Elementaita Lodge will also host Day 2 and 3 Spectator Stages, Rally Headquarters and Service Park.

Defending Safari and KNRC Champion Jaspreet Chatthe will be the first one off the ramp followed by Ian Duncan, Carl Tundo and Rajbir Rai.

The eight leg Kenya National Rally Championship continues to attract state-of-the-art machinery with several top drivers relishing upgrades to R4 and R5 cars.

Kabras Sugar Racing team of Baldev Chager, Onkar Rai and Tejveer Rau have since upgraded from Group N to R4 Evolution 10s which were flown in last week.

Quentin Mitchell (Skoda Fabia) and Nikhil Sachania (Fiat Grande Punto) are the only drivers in the event driving S2000 cars.

This year’s event will feature one R5 car which be driven by Rajbir Rai who is son of legendary two-time Kenya champion Sarbi Rai.
KNRC Standings after Kisumu Rally :-(Overall):
1. Baldev Chager 37
2. Manvir Baryan 33
3. Rajbir Rai 29
4. Tapio Laukkanen 27
5. Ian Duncan 21
6. Jassi Chatthe 20
7. Onkar Rai 18
8. Carl Tundo 15
9. Karan Patel 12
10. Izhar Mirza 10

KNRC Navigators:
1. Ravi Soni 43
2. Gareth Dawe 27
3. Amar Slatch 25
4. Gugu Panesar 23
5. Tim Jessop 21.

KNRC Division One;
1. Onkar Rai 46
2. Izhar Mirza 36
3. Jasmeet Chana 31
4. Frank Tundo 25
5. Jansher Sandhu 24.

KNRC Division Two:
1. Eric Bengi 27
2. Jonathan Somen 25
3. Mahesh Halai 21.

KNRC Division Three:
1. Chandrakant Devji 43
2. Natasha Tundo 33
3. Leonardo Varese 28.

KNRC Group N:
1. Baldev Chager 46
2. Onkar Rai 33
3. Ian Duncan 25
4. Izhar Mirza 24
5. Karan Patel 21.