Patel, Chana set to renew rivalry in Kilifi

Series leader Karan Patel and second-placed Jasmeet Singh Chana are expected to go head to head at the Kenya National Rally Championship’s seventh round in Kilifi County on Saturday.

Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) has received a sizable entry of drivers headed for the sea level fixture in the Mombasa Motor Club Bamba region of Kilifi County.

Registrations close on Thursday and although the Seeded List will not be published until then, KMSF General Manager Mwaura Njuguna has revealed a list of leading entries in the top-flight Division 1 and the lower-tier categories.

Home driver Piero itching to rev new Hyundai i20 NG to victory in Kilifi

Five Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 cars are expected to start. Karan who currently tops the KNRC log with 167 points, Chana -placed second with 161 points Issa Amwari, Nikhil Sachania and Evans Kavisi have all confirmed their Evolution X cars, while trailblazing lady driver Maxine Wahome has entered a Subaru Impreza Group N car.

Meanwhile, Two Wheel Drive leaders Leonardo Varese and co-driver Kigondu Kareithi will pilot a Toyota Auris 2WD while Edward Maina and navigator Antony Gichohi will be in a Subaru Impreza.

Home driver Piero Canobbio will be co-driven by Riyaz Ismail in a Hyundai i20 NG Rally 2 which will be the first of its kind to grace the Coast leg of the KNRC.

Piero’s i20 N Rally2 car is the successor to its i20 R5 currently running in national and continental championships across the globe, as well as World Rally Championship’s third tier championship -WRC3. 

Another Rally 2, a Skoda Fabia, is in the hands of Raaji Bharij for the Minti Motorsport squad.

KMSF re-introduces training rallies

Karan’s younger brother Kush Patel will be at the wheel of an ex-Baldev Chager Subaru Hatchback in the company of Mudasar Chaudry. The Impreza is Karan’s double championship-winning Division 3 and Group S car.

Meanwhile, reconnaissance for the MMC round is programmed for the Bamba area on Friday, 14 October between 06:00hrs.

On the same day as the recce, Kilifi Mall will be the venue for Scrutineering Checks.

 The Ceremonial Start, Finish, and Prize Giving will take place on Saturday, October 15 at Bamba Mwezamoyo School.

Three stages -KWFT (38.00km), Mirima Wa Ndege (26.36km), and Jila (16.24km) -will be repeated to make up a competitive run of 161.30km. The liaison distance is 116km while the total distance is 277.50km.

KNRC STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 6 -NANYUKI RALLY 

DRIVERS

1 Karan K Patel         167

2 Jasmeet Chana     161

3 Leonardo Varese    60

4 Carl Flash Tundo    59

5 Maxine Wahome    57

6 Kush Patel                54

7 Steve Mwangi      49

8 Jeremiah Wahome  41

9 Ghalib Hajee      40

10 Zameer Verjee    33

 CO-DRIVERS 

1 Tauseef Khan           167

2 Ravi Chana       161

3 Kigo Kareithi      60

4 Murage Waigwa    57

5 Mudassar Chaudry   54

6 Riyaz Ismail       52

7 Dennis Mwenda   49

8 Deep Patel       45

9 Victor Okundi     41

10 Tim Jessop       39