Baldev Singh Chager navigated by Ravi Soni in a Group N Mitsunishi Lancer Evolution 9 ended an 18-year wait when he racked up the second Kisumu Rally title in his career in the wet and muddy terrain around Chemelil region.
This was Chager’s first win in Kisumu since 1998, the year the “Flying Singh” made his Kenya National Rally Championship debut in awesome fashion. Chager had his campaign effectively sewn up when six-time former National champion Ian Duncan retired halfway on medical grounds.
Duncan was leading the pack prior to his poor health condition. Rajbir Rai romped home second incidentally 14 seconds behind the winner in a Ford Fiesta R5. Manvir Baryan also in a Ford Fiesta R5 completed the podium dash 32 seconds behind the winner.
Chager was all smiles and he said: “Today was perhaps the toughest conditions we have seen in a long time. Organisers had to cancel two stages because of adverse weather conditions and had to reroute and rerun some stretches.”
— Phillip Orwa
