Nanyuki Rally ready to roll as Chatthe battles Tapio

It is all systems go as the next KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) showdown moves to Nanyuki next Saturday.

The fifth round of the series follows events in Kajiado, Kisumu, Elementaita and Wundanyi as the race for national titles in various categories heats up.

KNRC champion, Jaspreet Chatthe, has stiff competition to contend with including Wundanyi winner and ‘Flying Finn’ Tapio Laukannen, Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, Baldev Chager and Rajbir Rai among others.

The 2WD class has attracted top title contenders including speedster Eric Bengi, defending champion Leonardo Varese, series leader Alex Lairangi and Sammy Nyorri.

Nanyuki Rally, formerly Mount Kenya Rally, will see the drivers return to the 2014 closed private land stages around Loldaiga and Batian View, starting their attack right outside KCB Nanyuki Branch from 7.00am local time (+3GMT)

The cars will then proceed to the 45km Loldaiga Stage 43 minutes later.

The 40km Lengetia Stage will be run once, Loldaiga repeated twice and Batian View -which is the designated viewing point -will be run thrice at 9:06am, 11:56am and 2:42pm to allow spectators more time to witness hair-raising thrills.

Rally Director Bimal Patel said the Service Park, Spectator Stage and Rally Headquarters will be centred on Batian View on the foothills of Mount Kenya.

Patel added that the Spectator Stage at Batian (near Nanyuki town centre) is a 4km smooth, fast and twisty run with plenty of safe spots on a cliff for spectators to watch drivers in pure adrenaline action.

“As part of the safety plan, all spectators will be confined to the designated viewing point and no one will be permitted access to private ranch stages.

“At Batian, fans may get a chance to socialize with drivers during prize giving,” he said.

The finish will be after the third run of the spectator stage after Service C.

Tapio and Chatthe currently share the lead with 79 points at halfway stage and it will be interesting to see how just how division battles take shape into the season’s second half.

 Raceday Programme

Start: KCB Nakuru-07:00hrs

CS1: Loldaiga 1 (45kms)-07:43hrs

CS2: Batian View Spectator 1 (4km)-09:06hrs

Service A @Batian View

CS3: Lengetia (40km)-10:26hrs

CS4: Batian View Spectator 2 (4km)-11:56hrs

Service B @Batian View

CS5: Loldaiga 2 (45km) -14:33

CS6: Batian View Spectator 3-14:42

Service C @Batian View

KNRC standings as at Round 4-Wundanyi Rally

Main class

1=Jassi Chatthe 79

1=Tapio Laukannen 79

3. Ian Duncan 62

4. Rajbir Rai 61

5.Baldev Chager 37

6=Carl Tundo 33

6=Onkar Rai 33

6=Manvir Baryan 33

Classic Class

1. Jonathan Somen 25
2. Ramesh Vishram 21
3. Dinesh Sachania 18

Group N Class

1. Ian Duncan 88
2. Baldev Chager 46
3. Mahesh Halai 40

2WD Class

1. Alex Lairangi 80
2. Eric Bengi 75
3. Leonardo Varese 68
4. Sammy Nyorri 39
5. Gurmit Thethy 15

Division 1 Class

1. Onkar Rai 84
2. Asad Khan “Kalulu” 48
3. Farhaaz Khan 47

Division 2 Class

1. Mahesh Halai 53
2. Eric Bengi 46
3. Adil Mirza 45

Division 3 Class

1. Natasha Tundo 9
2. Chandu Devji 66
3. Edward Maina 50