New rules in place for KCB E. Ravine rally

Its all systems go for the third round of the 2014 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship following the approval of the route by the Rallies Commission of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation.

Details for the Eldama Ravine rally, which will be staged on May 24, were released to the media and rally drivers during a function hosted by KCB in Nairobi yesterday.

The new guidelines from the Motor Sports Governing Body, have made it mandatory for every club to seek the approval of certain team of officials before the stages are accepted in the final itinerary of every event for safety reasons.

KCB Director of Marketing and Communication, Angela Mwirigi, who was among the chief guests at the function, said the bank recognizes the strong heritage that the sport has in the country.

“The sport is fulfilling the promise of building trust with financial solutions and needs. Since 2003 KCB has pumped more than Sh440 million in the sport, which is also seen as value to both sponsors and the sport,” said Mwirigi.  

Raju Chagger, who has done route-opening duties for the 10-day East African Safari Classic Rally in the past and who is also a member of the Safety Council, was among the officials who accompanied Clerk of the Course Frank Tundo while on scrutinizing the route for the race.

SAFETY MARSHALLS

“The stages are very technical and should be a navigator’s ordeal. They are fast with rough patches but generally good quality stages. The Fluorspar stage should be spectacular for both the drivers and fans,” said Chagger. The route is divided into eight competitive stages of which three will be repeated. The longest stage is 32.8km while the shortest is 12.3km.

Among other factors, the team identified special junctions for Marshals and Police to monitor, helicopter landing spots and suitable locations for the start and finish time controls respectively, according to Chagger.  

In an effort to make the make the event safer, Tundo has engaged the services of local Boda Boda operators as safety marshal to be deployed at all feeder roads and at certain spectator points to discourage any movements of vehicles and fans while rally cars are in action.  The event will start from Eldama Ravine before action moves to two of the most famous stages of the rally - Kerio Valley and Fluorspar Hills - which were synonymous with past Safari Rallies for their scenic features.

The two stages, in addition to the 2km spectator stage, will be repeated to make sure the event is entertaining for everyone. Scrutineering of rally cars will be done in Nakuru on Friday (23 May), while recce will also be done on the same day but from Eldama Ravine.

Some of the attractive prizes to be awarded to the drivers include cash incentives for those setting fastest stage times at the end of every competitive stage of the rally.

Scrutiny of rally cars will be done in Nakuru on Friday (23 May), while recce will also be done on the same day but from Eldama Ravine. Drivers’ briefing will be done thirty minutes prior to the start of the rally at 7am Saturday morning.

Separately, Rallies Commission is on mission to improve rally maps and exact locations of the venues to be used in the Kenya National Rally Championship for safety purposes.

MOST DETAILED

With the help of Anwar Sidi, who was recently incorporated as member of the Rallies Commission, organizers, safety marshals, rally drivers and fans will now be able to google exact points of the rally stages and venues that are vital in running each and every round of the KCB-sponsored series.

“It is one of the most detailed and attractive information compiled by Sidi after having seen in sequence what he has come up with after visiting the locations of the Nakuru Rally. Its World Rally Championship standard that will help even helicopters to pick exact point of landing in cases of emergencies.

Soin further added, that his Commission was extremely pleased with the corporation from the officials of the Rift Valley Motor Sports Club in the manner they have quickly addressed recent rules such as accepting Commission members to monitor functions of the Time Controls at the end of every Flying Finish points to avoid suspicions of cheating.

The will enjoy as roads are very wide, very smooth and with endless hairpins that will be stunning to watch