Guru Nanak Rally attracts 19 as KNRC concludes

Aakif Virani navigated by Azhar Bhatti, in a Skoda Fabia, will be first off the ramp as 20 drivers battle in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) Guru Nanak Rally. 

Karan Patel, title- chasing Carl Tundo, defending champion Baldev Chager as well as Ugandan Amaanraj Rai complete the first five spots off the ramp in that order in the event set to be flagged off at 9 am. 

Rains in the Athi River area saw organisers change the competition schedule, altering part of the route while scrutineering and documentation, completed on Saturday, was done at Sikh Union Club. The start and finish are set for II-Bissell. 

The longest stage is Il -Bissell which totals 60km and the shortest is the 16km Kudu run. The Bissell stage, which will be a real test of speed and endurance, will host two competitive stages done twice making the total competitive distance 154.54km. 

Tundo tops the log on 166 points and only needs 8 points to win, a feat he could achieve if he finishes in the top nine places. 

Being the second most successful driver in the history of the Sikh Union Club organized round, Tundo is leaving nothing to chance.

He has six Guru Nanak wins between 2009 and 2020 against twelve of veteran driver Ian Duncan. Chager, on the other hand, has won the Guru Nanak three times between 2004 and 2013 and it will be interesting to see how his battle with Tundo pans out on the last event.

Should Tundo dip to tenth spot whereby he scores 7 points, he will need to rack-up 2 points on the Power Stage to bring his tally to 175.

Tundo has three wins under his belt this season while Chager will go on three should he rule Il-Bissel terrain.

Meanwhile five-time KNRC Two-Wheel Drive Champion Leonardo Varese who was peerless in his class on the technical Nanyuki gravel in October, where he had returned from a two-year sabbatical, leading throughout to win his first race in two years is hoping to complete his short season on a high with a win.