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NEWS & CURRENT AFFAIRS

The Nairobian

Varese lands Sh700,000 sponsorship ahead of Kiambu Rally

Sports

By - ERICK OCHIENG’ | Apr 06, 2014

By ERICK OCHIENG’

Sportpesa Administrative Director David Kanyeki (left), presents a Sh700,000 dummy cheque to Leo Varese (second left) and his navigator Kigo Kareri in Nairobi on Friday. PHOTO:JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Two-time Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) champion Leonardo Varese and his navigator Kigo Kariathi are happy men ahead of the third round of the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) KNRC series in Kiambu County on April 26-27.

This was after sports lottery body, SportPesa gave them a Sh700,000 sponsorship as they prepare for the third round of the series that will snake through the hills around Cianda, Mbo-i-Kamiti, Migaa Estate and Tatu City in Kiambu.

“I thank SportPesa for believing in us. It is now our duty to perform better,” said Varese.

Varese, who won the championship in 2008 and 2010 seasons, is currently third on the 2WD log in the KNRC series with 20 points after winning the second round in Machakos after retiring in the first round in Malindi with mechanical problems.

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“My target in Kiambu is to either win or finish second,” Varese, who currently has no plans to upgrade to the main class category due to related costs, told FeverPitch.

SportPesa Sales and Marketing Manager, Victoria Ombogo said her company has identified the efforts of Varese and Kariathi and is glad to have a first ever rally team in the series.

“SportPesa is happy to come on board. We hope our SportPesa Rally Team 2014 will not only make an impressive run, but will lift the 2WD category, our plan is to support rally in a big way in Kenya in the future,”Ombogo said.

While praising the new partnership, Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF)General Manager Mwaura Njuguna said the partnership is a positive venture that will not only uplift KMSF and the KNRC but will also give SportPesa a mileage in the Kenyan sports market.

“We are glad that corporates are coming on board to support our drivers,” said Njuguna.

Kiambu County Governor William Kabogo, assisted by KCB Chief Executive Joshua Oigara, will flag off the third round. In a bid to enhance safety of crews and spectators, organisers Rallye Sports Club (RSC) are running this event entirely on closed private farm roads.

Spectators will also experience something different from the norm with the designated spectator stage at Migaa Estate being run on both days.

On Saturday, April 26 the spectator stage will be run once and thrice the following day.

“The rules only permit organisers to run any given stage twice but we have been given a special dispensation by the Rallies Commission to run the spectators stage at Migaa thrice because spectators will not go to other stages,” said Clerk of the course, George Mwangi.