KNRC title down to the wire with Tundo, Baldev in contention

Despite their disqualification for breach of competition rules at the seventh Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) leg held in Nanyuki, Carl Tundo and Baldev charger’s fight for the title will still be decided on the final leg set to be hosted by Simba Union. 

The Africa Rally Champion, Tundo leads the standings on 166 points, 21 ahead of defending champion Baldev and will be treading on dangerous waters in the final leg as any outcome that sees the latter cover the difference in points will deny him the title. 

Tundo and his navigator Tim Jessop were disqualified after the Appeals Board established that they had breached article 11.13 of the National Competition Rules (NCR) which states that a competitor cannot be towed out of a special stage or liaison section unless they have retired from the event. Contravention leads to disqualification.  

Charger incurred a massive 20 minutes’ penalty for going off the route course in Nanyuki but upon appeal, they were disqualified for breaching article 11.11(b) of the NCR’s which states that any competitor seen more than five meters off the designated route, for a second offence, will be penalized with exclusion from the event and a Ksh 20,000 penalty and reported for disciplinary action  

On his part, Jasmeet Chana and his navigator Ravi Chana were penalized for breaching articles 12.1.1 (a) and (c) of the 2021 FIA International Sporting Code. Jasmeet pushed Tundo back until the car started motoring again through to the last service. The code states that unless stated otherwise, offences or infringements are punishable, whether they were committed intentionally or through negligence. Any natural or legal person who takes part in an offence or infringement, whether as an instigator or as an accomplice, is also punishable. 

Meanwhile, Aakif Virani who won his maiden KNRC title in the Nanyuki leg following the disqualifications of the three, is well on his way to winning the KNRC division one title having amassed 137 points against second-placed Nikhil Sachania’s 105 points. McRae Kimathi is tied in second place at 105 points with the final leg set to separate the two. 

Maxine Wahome leads the KNRC division two race, her 137 points 14 better than second-placed Daren Miranda. The classic championship has Ramesh Vishram and Aslam Khan tied top at 54 points with Shakeel Khan breathing down their necks at 51 points.