Drivers take battle to Kisumu
What you need to know:
- Finland’s Laukkanen the man to watch as Chager first off the ramp Saturday morning
- Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen is leading the KNRC Rally with a total of 25 points.
Poor weather is expected to play in the minds of drivers as the second event of the 2016 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship gets under way in Kisumu Saturday morning.
Kisumu-based driver Gugu Panesar, who is the reigning Kenya National Navigator Champion, was among the first participants to express his fears owing to the countrywide heavy rains.
“Our preparations for the rally started on last Saturday after the arrival of mechanics from UK. The car is in perfect condition. The weather conditions seem unfavourable as its raining here every day and it looks like it’s going to be the same scenario as the Kisumu Rally of 2010, which was very wet, slippery and muddy,” said Panesar.
Panesar, a regular navigator of Jaspreet Chatthe in a Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX, added: “I just hope conditions will improve. However, our preparations are intact and I have full confidence in my driver who can to handle the wet stages as we look forward to the rally.”
Former National Champion, Baldev Chager, in a Mitsubishi Lancer EvoX, is seeded first on road ahead of the 29 cars expected to grace the rally. Chager is yet to win the Kisumu event since he made his rally debut 18 years ago.
Seeded fifth in his Subaru Impreza, Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen, who started his winning streak on his debut rally in Kisumu last year, is the driver to watch. He is leading the KNRC Rally with a total of 25 points.
Fresh from tying the knot a few weeks ago, Farhaaz Khan will also be seeking to shine in his first rally on Saturday.
“We are hoping that the event will be wet. We would like to thank our sponsors Oil Libya for all the support,” said Khan, who will be navigated by Keith Henrie in a Mitsubishi Lancer. Tejvir Rai, who has acquired the latest Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4, will put it in action for the time in the Kisumu Rally.
