RISING SAFARI STARS: Youngsters Patel and Sachania shine in Nanyuki as KCB Kisumu beckons

Athman Brothers Khalfan and Abdulaziz Athman in their Delights Co Ltd Mitsubishi Evolution 9 during the KCB Safari Rally in Nanyuki at the weekend. They finished 22nd overall. [PHOTO:sAMMY MOSE/STANDARD]

Youngsters Nikhil Sachania and Karan Patel were among the star attractions in the 62nd KCB Safari Rally 2014 which ended on the foothills of Mount Kenya at Batian View Nanyuki over the weekend.

The duo hope to maintain their dogged campaign in search of their maiden national rally titles as the KCB Kisumu Rally takes place on ‘Mashujaa Day’ weekend on October 18.

Kisumu Rally makes up the seventh and penultimate round of the eight leg KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).

Patel, who started his rallying career in March during the FSC Rally in Migaa, has been ruffling feathers on the local scene. He made his Safari Rally debut last weekend and finished in a credible ninth overall position. Over and above his overall standing, Karan won KNRC Division 3 and S class.

Sachania is a disabled driver who drives a hand-controlled Mitsubishi Challenger. He won the SPV Class navigated by Charanjeev Singh in 29th overall position.

Sachania said: “The Safari was a great experience for me. It was always a dream to take part in such an event. The rally very well organised and the stages were a good mix of rough, fast and twisty. On the first day, we led the SPV class by almost a minute. On Day Two, we stopped to help a 2WD car that was stuck in a ditch at Loldaiga. Unfortunately their towing rope would release of our car. We lost quite a bit of time as the car behind caught us. We overtook them later in the stage but at the end of day lost our position in the SPV and overall. Day Three, we pushed the car as much we could in the Loldiga to come and finish first in our class. I had a lot of fun and I cannot wait for the next event.”

LONG EVENT

Patel, who will be attending the FIA Institute Academy trials in South Africa this weekend alongside Tejas Hirani said: “Overall, it was a long event however we had a good time and I wish to thanks god, our families and our service crew and friends for being there to support us. It means the world to me to be able to drive and compete in rally. And I am looking forward to climbing the ladder even further next season when I hopefully will get a new car so that i can compete in Group N.”
Kisumu rally will be organised by Equator Motor Club (EMC), which is based in the lakeside region.