Chana motivated after Safari Rally exploits as KNRC Championship title beckons

Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) leader Jasmeet Chana heads into the second half of the season on Rally Nanyuki in August with a good feeling in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X and a massive 54-point lead over his nearest rival McRae Kimathi.

Navigated by his sibling Ravi Chana, the reigning Group N Champion romped home in second overall position on KNRC Safari Rally category behind Carl “Flash” Tundo to extend his lead after four events in Machakos, Voi, Nakuru and Naivasha’s Safari which counted towards the fourth round of the KNRC series.

Although the closest challenger is 54 points adrift, Chana refuses to rest on his laurels in his quest for a maiden KNRC title and his immediate aim is to win the Nanyuki leg.

“Nanyuki is always an exciting round for many of us and I am always excited to take on its unique and challenging gravel,” said Chana who won his first career KNRC round in Nakuru last year.

He continued, “We are happy to compete again in August in the high-altitude Mount Kenya region after Safari which was a very challenging event. It’s certainly going to be a demanding rally with very technical roads.

But the Mitsubishi Evolution X has always given me confidence at these speeds with incessant pre-event testing that we always do, I have a good feeling in the car.”

Safari; the rally that has everything

It was Chana's fourth podium of the 2023 KNRC circuit and his second top two this season, having already boosted his campaign with victory in Nakuru last month.

Last year, he lost the title to Karan Patel on homestretch in Voi and is looking to lay his hands on the title in 2023. He is one of the few KNRC drivers to have won virtually all KNRC categories, from 2WD, to Group S, Group N, Division 3 and Division 1.

"I had a very good feeling after the Naivasha fesh fesh and we drove cautiously to earn the all-important points for the championship. Luckily, that paid off and this is a really good feeling," he concluded.

KNRC Standings after Safari Rally

1.Jasmeet Chana 114

2 McRae Kimathi 60

3 Nikhil Sacania 44

4 Carl Tundo 39

5= Kush Patel 34

5= Karan Patel

7 Amman Shah 33

8 Jeremiah Wahome 30

9 Hamza Anwar 26

10= Izhar Mirza 23

10=Issa Amwari 23