Duncan opts for Mitsubishi Evo9 drive in national series

Ian Duncan will finally move to a Group “N” car for this year’s Kenya National Rally Championship after years at the wheels of specially prepared vehicles which attracted massive interest from both fans and drivers.

The former Safari Rally champion has embarked on preparing a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution9 to replace the ever-popular Nissan Pick-up.

The car, which has been lying in his workshop since it was acquired some months ago from Europe, is expected to be ready in time for the first round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) next month.

“Minor work is being carried out on the car on daily basis with more emphasis on the suspensions and arms. It should be ready for the first event.

“It will be sad to move to a boring rally car after years at the wheels of pick-ups,’’ joked Duncan while talking to Daily Nation.

There is sense of excitement waiting for both his rivals, and especially spectators who acknowledged Duncan’s presence in the SPVs as one of the most thrilling and spectacular actions of the KNRC competition.

Duncan last drove a FIA homologated car in the 1994 season when he won the Safari Rally at the wheels of a Toyota Celica GT4.

Meanwhile, without the World Rally Championship status for the Safari Rally, the image of the KCB KNRC series will remain diluted despite the constructive expansion of the sport over the last five years.

With no concrete evidence to help Kenya reclaim WRC status since 2002, analysts are left pondering over what next for the country with one of the best rally series across the African Continent.

While on a recent visit to Kenya, FIA President Jean Todt said Kenya had the worst Road Safety record in the world which needs to be improved.