S. GitahiRivalry hots up ahead of next weekend's KNRC seventh round in Il Bisil
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 30.09.23. | 10:16
The race will feature a Clubman Rally Category intended to bring more entries in a short event covering 50% of the entire route
The technical gravel roads of Il Bisil will play host to one of the most grueling events of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) on 8 October 2023.
Dubbed as the ‘KMSC Kajiado Rally’, the race will round up as the seventh event of the 2023 season, and will provide a chance for rivalry, and potential chance to clinching the overall drivers’ championship.
Two souls in the audience, silently adding verses to the safari's story.#SafariRallyKenya pic.twitter.com/LZd8erJP7d
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) September 25, 2023
Running under the same route as last year, championship leader Jasmeet ‘Iceman’ Chana heads to the KMSC leg leading by a massive 84 points ahead of Jeremiah Wahome after scoring a much-needed podium in Mombasa last month.
In one of the most energy-sapping terrains that tests the KNRC drivers and cars to the limit, Iceman will renew his rivalry with Ford Fiesta Rally 3 youngsters McRae Kimathi and Wahome.
Wahome is tipped as one of the favorites having won two rounds so far in Machakos and Mombasa.
Like Wahome, Jasmeet has two wins under his belt in Eldoret and Nakuru.
A fifth place finish at worst for Chana in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X in Bisil will however see him claim the championship with two legs to go.
"The first stage will be rough on the cars, and navigators will need to be on top of their game,” John Kamau, Clerk of the course, said of the race. “The very first stage (Il-Bisil 1) is a 60.43km run that ends at a quarry, so it will be quite dusty, whilst the second stage (Marble 1/20.29km) will be quite interesting on the second run as it is doubling up as the Power Stage (Marble 2/20.29km) -so deterioration of the road can make it quite rough for the crews.”
Kamau also named the Rally HQ and Service Park location as Kumpa, adding: "There will be a designated spectator zone with access that does not interfere with the rally stage and will allow spectators to see cars as they run the two loops."
"As I call on spectators to show up in large numbers as they have not had much rallying action around Nairobi since the WRC, they must also follow instructions of the marshals for their own safety."
Meanwhile, the KNRC event will also feature a Clubman Rally category intended to bring in more entries as it will be a short event covering 50% of the entire route.
"It should be encouraging for people testing cars for events such as the Classic Rally,” Kamau said. “We have opened up the Clubman Rally to all drivers and vehicles with the exception of the RC2 and B13 Classes, so we are looking forward to an interesting mix of entries for the KNRC.”
The Clubman Rally will run one loop of the repeated stages behind the KNRC vehicles.
The KNRC category will feature 161 kms of competitive driving and a liaison distance of 55km for a total rally distance of 216 kms.
The Rally starts and ends at Kumpa.
Scrutineering and documentation will take place at the KMSC Clubhouse in South C on Saturday 7 October, with Classic Cars being allowed to enter the 2-Wheel Drive class without scoring in both classes.
RALLY ITINERARY-OCTOBER 8
9:00: KUMPA SERVICE PARK START
9:23: SS1-Il-Bisil 1 (60.43km)
10:41: SS2- Marble 1 (20.29km)
11:16: REGROUP & TECHNICAL ZONE IN
11:19: REGROUP OUT & SERVICE IN
SERVICE A-KUMPA (30mins)
11:49: SERVICE A OUT-HOLDING IN
12:34 HOLDING OUT
13:02: SS1-Il-Bisil 2 (60.43km)
14:20: SS2- Marble 2 Power Stage (20.29km)
14:55: REGROUP & TECHNICAL ZONE IN
14:58: REGROUP OUT & SERVICE IN
SERVICE B-Kumpa (10mins)
15:08: SERVICE B OUT & PARC FERME IN
