Rai conquers Kisumu: Son of legendary Rai wins his second as KNRC season GOES DOWN THE WIRE

Rajbir Rai (left) and Tmothy Challen celebrates at Chemase Grounds after being crowned this year's KCB Kisumu Rally yesterday. PIC BY TITUS MUNALA

Jinja-based Kenyan Rajbir Rai in a Mitsubishi Evolution 10 claimed his second win of the season with victory in the penultimate KCB Kisumu Rally staged in Chemase region yesterday.

This was Rajbir’s second win of the season after the son of legendary Sarbi Rai first won his first career event in Eldmana Ravine.

Rai, navigated by Timothy Challen clocked in 1:28.12, and 24-year-old said the “course was okay, winning a second career event a plus for me, it’s an honour and I am impressed.”

Tundo emerged second in 1:28.48. Third was 60-year-old Azar Anwar, who was navigated by Julius Ngigi in a Mitsubishi EVO8, in 1:31.11.

SportPesa-sponsored Leonardo Varese in a Toyota Corolla RSI won the 2WD Class followed by defending champion Dennis Mwenda while Karan Patel in a career best fifth won group s Class in the absence of season pacesetter Alasdair Keith.

Jonathan Somen won the Classic in a career best 10th overall place.

“We had a frustrating outing losing almost five minutes replacing some tires after we developed two successive punctures, I think I let the car down or vicerversa, I can’t tell which is which,” said Tundo, who was navigated by Tim Jessop in a Proton Satria S2000 said

Going into the final round of the Kenya National Rally Championship which will be the Guru Nanak Rally, it looks like the title race has now narrowed down to a two horse race between Baldev Charger who leads with a total of 360 points against Carl “Flash” Tundo who has a total of 326 with the title seeming gone down to the wire.

Fourth was Baldev Charger who was navigated by Ravi Soni in a Mitsubishi EV10 clocking 1:32.01 and Karan Patel, navigated by Tauseef Khan followed in a Subaru Impreza GC8 in 1:32.38.

Jasmeet Chana (1:33.02) navigated by Ravi Chana in a Mitsubishi Evo9, Ronak Shah (1:34.30) navigated by Rivaz Ismail in a Subaru Impreza N12B, Galib Hajee (1:37.16) navigated by Sinder Sudle in a Mitsubishi EvoX, Farhaaz Khan (1:40.45) navigated by Salim Khan in a Subaru Impreza N10 and Jonathan Somen (1:43.10) navigated by Richard Hechle in a Ford Escort MK11 completed the top ten.

Earlier, Issa Amwayi crashed out of the CS1 with just 100m to go after his steering rack/controller arm broke out.

“The vehicle started controlling itself and there is nothing that we could have done. I lost control, I think because of the steering rack or controller arm.

Thank God the spectators were a bit far, had they been near I don’t know what could have happened because I had no control of the vehicle.”

Laukkane Tapio also bowed out of the race after hitting a ditch and spoiling the suspension of the Subaru Impreza GVB134. He was leading on CS1 on 5.14 before the incident.