Tundo leads Team Dumas to Rallycross victory in Machakos

Betika Rallycross at the People's Park, Machakos on Saturday. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Star-studded Team Dumas are winners of the second edition of Rallycross championship held at the Machakos Peoples Park, over the weekend.

The squad of five-time Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) champion Carl 'Flash' Tundo, 2012 Guru Nanak Rally champion Tash Tundo, reigning East African Safari Classic Rally champion Baldev Chager and budding rally ace Joseph Gachecheh accumulated 195 points to lift the adrenaline-filled event.

They were followed by Team 2, composed of Africa Junior Rally champion Hamza Anwar, his father Asad Anwar, Safari Rally WRC3 champion Maxine Wahome and two-time Dakar Rally finisher Ron Oakeley, who amassed 175 points.

Betika sponsored side consisting of promising rally ace Jennifer Malik, three-time Time Trial champion Kay Wachira, two-time Champagne Park 4x4 champion Andrew Muiruri and 2016 Africa Rally Championship (ARC) navigator champion Bob Kaugi, emerged third on 166.

"I thank my team for the victory. It was an all-round effort by everybody. I'm happy that people came and enjoyed themselves. My hope is for this sport to continue to grow and be a major global attraction," Carl Tundo said.

The former ARC winner added that he was happy with the turnout, but projected that the number of fans will grow as people continue to learn and know more about Rallycross.

"This is more than a motorsports event. There is plenty of food, drinks and the children playing area is amazing. Families can use it as a good occasion for their picnics," he said.

Tundo said they will host four Rallycross events next year. His next focus is on the forthcoming East Africa Safari Mini Classic Rally on December 8-11.

Hamza, whose team won the first Rallycross edition held at the same venue in July, blamed several penalties that cost them victory in the weekend championship.

"We were in a commanding lead, but we went off track and were penalised, thus denying us the overall position. Nevertheless, we had fun, we also used this competition to step up training for our next challenge which is the Mini Classic Rally," Hamza said.

Malik admitted that the competition was tough, but was happy to have improved her performance compared to her first outing in July.

"As a mother of three, I didn't know I would handle this. I have just embraced rallying and I'm happy with my progress," the sister to former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala said.

"The first Rallycross in July was also my first time in a rally car. It was hard, it was tough but I pushed myself. I was spinning, drifting and was literally all over the place going outside the track and coming back in."