‘Flash’ throws down the gauntlet

• Thousands turn out to follow the action as champ Duncan comes home in second place

Carl “Flash” Tundo won the opening round of this year’s Kenya National Rally Championship series, the KCB Micro Banking rally in Nyeri, beating defending national champion Ian Duncan who finished second.

Carl Tundo won with a time of one hour, eight minutes and 51 seconds in a Mitsubishi Evo 9 while Duncan clocked 1:10:32 in the a similar car.

Another top contender, Alistar Cavenagh, completed the podium places in third place in 1:12:29, followed by Baldev Chager (1:12;45).

Azar Anwar was fifth clocking 1:14:03 and Hardeep S. Rehsi sixth in 1:15:45.

Carl Tundo said he foresaw more wins coming in the future.

“I feel fantastic, and this is just the beginning of what will be a good season,” he said at the Ruring’u stadium where he was feted.

Ian Duncan, who appeared crestfallen, blamed a puncture but noted the result was good for him.

He said he would try to win championships in the future, pointing to increasing competition and entries, which he said had made the rally season more competitive.

He also urged the organisers to ensure people and traffic were cleared from the road in future to avoid accidents taking place. Ten out of 50 drivers dropped out of the 162 kilometres of competitive racing in this year’s inaugural race, which was delayed by one hour that resulted into two sections being cancelled.

The rally saw hundreds of enthusiasts brave the dusty conditions along the route and at the super special spectator stage at the Ruring’u stadium to witness the breathtaking action. The drivers had to endure the hilly and stony Nyeri terrain as well as dusty, hot conditions, prevalent at this time of the year.

The region that normally showcases little in terms of national events and sports extravaganzas had dozens of residents come out to watch the rally, which is returning to Nyeri after 30 years.

Hotels also did booming business as hordes of visitors descended on the town to follow their favourite drivers.

Twenty three year-old Henry Macharia, a computer science student at Kimathi University said it was the first time he was seeing the vehicles up close.

“I usually see the cars on TV but now I am more thrilled to see them live,” he said.

Mr Macharia perhaps represents a larger section of Nyeri residents who feel such events should be held more regularly, so that the residents can enjoy the outdoor feeling.

The third year student laments that the town has little to offer in terms of recreational facilities, saying him like a wide cross section of people, have taken to spending their free time indoors watching movies and other past times.

Simon Wachira, the chief executive officer of the Mt Kenya Tourism said there were not enough recreational activities and facilities, but noted the circuit was keen on marketing the existing ones.

Some of the attractions include mountain climbing and watching wildlife and sampling tourist lodges and hotels.