Signal clear for KCB Voi Rally

The stage is set for the KCB Voi Rally, the fourth round of the national circuit. The Chief architect of the rally, Roy Mackenzie, said o Tuesday everything was in place for the race, which is set for this weekend.

“We are looking forward to a better and exciting event  after changing venues from Kilifi to Voi and Taveta areas. Unlike Kilifi, the new stages are going to be completely closed for the rally cars on the day of the competition,” said Mackenzie, also the Chairman of the Mombasa Motor Club, the organisers.

Speaking to Daily Nation Sport, Mackenzie has assured drivers of smooth and all-weather stages that should not cause any alarm for those preparing to return to action after a short break.

The Rukinga venue will host the entire competition with three competitive stages that will be done twice. The longest section will 52 kilometres long while the shortest will be 16.8kms. Another spectator stage will be held at the Voi Stadium. For the first time after a long gap, the organisers will offer cash prizes to the fastest drivers in the main Spectator Stage, commonly known as the Power Stage.

Fastest drivers from each of the categories will earn cash prizes donated by Shell V-Power, one of the sponsors of the KCB-supported series. The actual cash prize money has yet to be disclosed.

The fourth round of the current series will kick off with the official reconnaissance of the route and Scrutineering on Friday, while the real rally action will take place on Saturday. Scrutineering and drivers’ briefing will be hosted by Shell Voi. The event starts at KCB Voi branch on Saturday morning.

PROTON CHALLENGE

The rally is expected to attract all the top drivers, some of whom had opted out of the last event for personal reasons.

Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen, Baldev Chager, Carl Tundo, Onkar and Tejvir Rai are all expected to come back to action with all cylinders firing after missing the KCB Kajiado Rally.

Jaspreet Chatthe needs to consolidate his lead at the top the overall standings with yet another good performance in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10.

Former National Champion, Alastair Cavenagh will return to the Proton S2000 after a short spell in the Porsche Carera that is now being prepared for the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally in November.

Cavenagh is yet to finish an event in the Proton since he acquired it at the beginning of last year. In contrast, Carl Tundo has already proved the car to be a winner in addition to other commendable results in the same car in other the national rallies.