A total of 17 crews, six in the premier category, five in Division 2 and three each in Division 1 and 3 will start in the eighth round of the 2019 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship in Eldoret on Saturday.
Series leader Baldev Chager heads the seeded entry list, with his Kabras Sugar Racing team-mate Onkar Rai second,
Onkar and his new British co-driver Stuart Loudoun will drive a Volkswagen Polo R5 under Kabras Sugar Racing banner.
KCB Group Regional Business Director and National Bank of Kenya MD, Paul Russo said, “I encourage you all to come in numbers and support the drivers as they battle it out this weekend. This KCB Eldoret rally promises a riveting performance from all the drivers. Do not miss the action.
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Defending champions Carl “Flash” Tundo and Tim Jessop of Top Fry Racing are seeded third and will pilot the R4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10 which swept the ground with all and sundry in the Loldaigas.
Kabras Sugar Racing’s third driver Tejveer Rai will be behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10 and will be co-driven by Gavin Laurence who guided his brother Onkar to Meru victory. Notable absentees are reigning African Champions Manvir Baryan and Drew Sturrock who damaged their R5 Skoda Fabia in a high speed accident in Meru.
Baryan’s Skoda Fabia R5 was thrown into a series of rolls a few kilometers into stage 4. The African Champions were caught unaware when they hit an embedded rock at full speed which sent the Skoda into a nose dive followed by a series of nose-over- tail rolls. Baryan and Sturrock escaped serious injuries.
Meanwhile, a fabulous fight for the KNRC title is in prospect between Chager and Flash Tundo. Chager needs 24 points from the last two rounds to chalk up his first title since 2014. Tundo, on the other hand, must win both rallies and expect a retirement from his rival Tundo on one of the rallies to take the title fight down to the wire.
The Western Kenya Motor Club organised round will see several drivers fight for points in various categories of the Championship.
Leader Issa Amwari of Keihin Racing and Minesh Rathod of A1 Auto Racing team will lock horns for KNRC Division Two points.
