Tapio Laukkanen romps to victory in Mombasa Rally

Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen won the KCB Mombasa Rally on Saturday.

The Finn, who had briefly lost form after winning the opening round of the series, was third in the Safari Rally. But on Saturday, he led from start to finish in a Subaru Impreza.

“It is a great feeling to win a rally again. We did a good recce where we identified hidden tree stumps. The car behaved well and had no major issues. There were many tracks in the stages and we lost our way a few times. We are really excited to bounce back to winning ways,’’ said Laukkanen.

The battle for the second place was evenly fought between two of the most renowned drivers in the series.

Reigning national champion Jaspreet Chatthe in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO10 eventually overcame Ian Duncan in a similar car to take the all-important second place by a mere eight seconds.

CAUGHT FIRE

The souped-up Ford Fiesta of Carl Tundo got its first taste of the local terrain but unfortunately stopped in last stage after catching fire. A similar fate hit another Ford Fiesta of Manvir Baryan in the same area, though all the crews were said to be safe.

Despite the presence of the high number of Mitsubishi Lancers, considered to be fast and powerful, the single-outdated Subaru Impreza of Laukkanen emerged with top honours in the battle for supremacy in the manufacturers’ championship.

Baldev Chager’s charge for the title came to dramatic end after his Mitsubishi Lancer EVO10 landed awkwardly in a ditch after he lost control of the car at a slow right-hand corner.

“Baldev was kicking himself, saying if only he had reversed things would have been different,’’ said Ravi Soni, Chager’s navigator.

PROVISIONAL RESULTS

1. Tapio Laukkanen /Pasi Torma (Subaru Impreza) 119.50mins. 2. Jaspreet Chatthe /Gurdeep Panesar (Mitsubishi Evolution10) 126.35. 3. Ian Duncan/ Andrew Doig (Mitsubishi Evolution10) 126.45.