Tundo first off the ramp during Nanyuki Rally

What you need to know:

  • The Batian Stage will be the centre of attraction for the spectators.
  • Lolldaiga and Lengetia will be closed to spectators for safety reasons.
  • Jaspreet Chatthe is expected to face his bitter rival Tapio Lakkaunen of Finland, with whom he has had epic battles in the Mount Kenya event.
  • Laukkanen said he was looking forward to the rally with his usual aggression and commitment with nothing less than victory in his mind.

The Nanyuki Rally is all set for flag off on Saturday morning from the the KCB branch in the Laikipia County administrative centre.

Carl Tundo’s specially modified Ford Fiesta is expected to leave the ramp at 7am ahead of 35 other cars in this fifth edition of the 2016 Kenya National Rally Championship.

The Batian Stage will be the centre of attraction for the spectators as the other two sections - Lolldaiga and Lengetia will be closed to spectators for safety reasons.

The stages are some of the most familiar sections in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series.

Jaspreet Chatthe’s admiration for the stages has not been deterred by several incidents in the past that haunt the reigning national champion.

“Nanyuki has been one of my favourite rallies especially with the stages along Batian and Lengetia though they have been troublesome in the past.
“Once my car caught fire marking my only retirement in the competition,” Chatthe told Nation Sport.

WITH BIG DENT

Chatthe added: “I also went off the road though survived with a big dent on the door of my car in another event. Surprisingly it happened in the same stages.
“It is another rally, another day for me and my team.”

Chatthe, who is the reigning African, Kenya and Safari Rally champion, is expected to face his bitter rival Tapio Lakkaunen of Finland, with whom he has had epic battles in the Mount Kenya event.

The Fin and his Kenyan rival are tied on 79 points each at the top of the overall championship of the KCB-sponsored series after five rounds.

Laukkanen, who arrived in the country on Tuesday from Finland, said he was looking forward to the rally with his usual aggression and commitment with nothing less than victory in his mind.

“It has been a good battle with Chatthe and several other drivers in Kenya but my focus has always been on winning or nothing. Above all, I am really enjoying the competition in Kenya where stages are fast and drivers also friendly and competitive,” he said.

Several drivers will be seeking vital points to enhance their championship hopes in their respective classes.

Alex Lairangi leads the Formula Two Championship in his Toyota Sprinter as he nurses dreams of winning the title for the first time in his short rallying career.

Natasha Tundo, the only female rally driver in the competition, leads Division Three while Division Two is led by Mahesh Halai. Division One leader is Onkar Rai.

Former Safari Rally and Kenya champion Baldev Chager wishes to forget recent events, where two consecutive retirements have dented what was a good record in his illustrious rallying career.

“I think I went off to sleep in the Mombasa Rally, where a bit of more concentration would have helped bring back the car on the road in one piece,” he said.

NAKURU RALLY ENTRY LIST

1. Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop -Ford Proto

2. Rajbir Rai/Timothy Challen- Ford Fiesta

3. Tapio Laukkanen/Pasi Torma –Subaru Impreeza

4. Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni - Mitsubishi Evo10

5. Jaspreet Chatthe/ Gurdeep Panesar - Mitsubishi Evo10

6. Ian Duncan/TBA -Mitsubishi Evo 10

7. Manvir Baryan/Drew Sturrock-Ford Fiesta R5

8. Onkar Rai/Gareth Dawe -Mitsubishi Evolution 10

9. Tejveer Rai/Zahir Shah -Mitsubishi Evo10

10. Frank Tundo/TBC -Mitsubishi Evo9

11. Jasmeet Chana/Ravinder Chana -Mitsubishi Evo10

12. Amaanraj Rai/Tauseef Khan -Mitsubishi Evo10

13. Imran Mogul /Adnan Din -Subaru N12

14. Farhaaz Khan/Keith Henrie -Mitsubishi Evo9

15. Raaji Bharij/Ranjeet Sehmi-Ford Escort MK2

16. Dennis Mwenda/Job Njiru -Mitsubishi Evo9

17. Steve Mwangi/Johnathan Kosgey-Subaru N10

18. Jansher Sandhu/ Feisal Khan -Mitsubishi Evo9

19. Asad Khan/Harshil Limbani –Subaru Impreza GC8

20. Mahesh Halai/Ketan Halai –Subaru Impreza N12

21. Dilraj Chatthe/Riyaz Ismail -Mitsubishi Evo10

22. John Ng’ang’a/Anthony Njenga – Subaru Impreza N12

23. Eric Bengi/Tuta Mionki –Toyota Runx

24. Natasha Tundo/Chantal Young-Subaru Impreza

25. Taiti Wachira/Joan Lombard-Mitsubishi Evo6

26. Eric Njogu/Tony Kimondo –Subaru IMpreza N10

27. Chandrakant Devji/Julius Mwachuya – Subaru Impreza GC8

28. Osman Abdullahi/Evans Mwenda – Subaru Impreza

29. Sammy Nyorri/James Mwangi –Totota Runx

30. Leonardo Varese/Kigondu Kareithi –Toyota Corolla

31. Alex Lairang’i/Anthony Gichohi –Toyota Corolla

32. David Kioni/Victor Okundi

33. Edward Maina/Steve Mbuthia –Subaru IMpreza GC8

34. Josiah Kariuki/John Nganga-Subaru N11

35. McRae Kimathi/Absolum Kuya – Subaru Impreza GC8

36. Sam Karangatha/Edward Ndukui –Subaru Leone