Henry seals 2011 Autocross championship

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

Keith Henrie was crowned the new National Autocross 2011 Champion following Round Seven win at Athi River.

Henrie achieved the rare feat with an unassailable 147 points score with two rounds remaining.

Henrie  clocked 5:31.07minutes and earned two bonus championship points for setting the fastest time of the day on his fourth heat run which he cleared in 1:47.23 minutes.

Rajbir Rai, son of two times Kenya Rally champion Sarbi Rai,  gave Henrie stiff opposition in the latter stages before settling for second overall position  on 5:31.73 minutes.

Rai was, however, flattered by winning the Under-24 category despite strong challenge from Ken Anunda.

Anunda, who is proceeding to the UK for further studies ,  drove aggressively and maintained a steady run in the heat runs before sealing  the podium dash and losing second place by  three tenths of a second to Rai.

Maiden Race

Raaji Bharij, on his maiden Autocross race, finished fourth overall, while Amaanraj Rai came home fifth. Like Anunda, Amaanraj will also be proceeding for further studies in the UK.

Round Seven action was full of hair-raising thrills and spectacular hairpins.  However, the race was delayed for three hours following an accident involving Amardeep Saund’s buggy.

Saund lost control of his buggy, spun twice before crashing his “Attacker 1” buggy head-on against a tree. 

The driver sustained a deep cut on his right leg and was rushed to hospital for further checkup.

A total of 17 drivers participated in  the RSC-organised round including three Subaru rally cars driven by  Ben Muchemi, Stella Macharia and Onkar Rai.

Henrie’s Starlet powered engine packed up in practice lap compelling him to share a buggy with Ken Anunda.