KNRC: FIA Rally Star trio all pumped up for Ramisi Rally

FIA rally driver Hamza Anwar repairs his rally car in preparation for the upcoming KCB Ramisi Rally [photo courtesy]

Kenya’s FIA Rally Star Program drivers Hamza Anwar, McRae Kimathi and Jeremy Wahome are all set for the KCB Ramisi Rally scheduled for Saturday at the Kwale International Sugar Company Ltd (KISCOL) farm.

The competition will be the sixth leg of the ongoing Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) series currently topped by Carl 'Flash' Tundo.

The trio successfully took part in the Machakos leg, held at the expansive  Lisa Farm last month, with Wahome finishing fifth overall and second in the power stage. 

FIA Rally drivers, from left McRae Kimathi, Hamza Anwar, Jeremy Wahome and WRC Safari Rally Kenya CEO Phineas Kimathi pose for a photo as they prepare for KCB Ramisi Rally [photo courtesy]

“I have set targets for every race I'm competing. I want to monitor my progress in the sport," Wahome told Standard Sports.

Wahome's objective is to finish in the top five in the coming circuit organised by the Mombasa Motor Club.

"I'm confident Ramisi will be good to me, I'm  grateful that my sponsors Safaricom and Kenya Airways have supported me in the preparations toward the event."

The secret to the good run by the 22-year old who joined rallying in June this year is engaging in endless PlayStation games and watching YouTube videos to master the sport.

"They trigger my mind to get used to receiving the pace-notes while read by my navigator Victor Okundi.

"I'm just trying to learn as much as I can so things can get a lot more easier when I enter the car for the race," he said.

Wahome admits he's learnt so much from Okundi who is equally experienced both as a driver and a navigator.

"Okundi has held my hand, he's helped me to just learn the ropes in rallying but also giving me enough space to adjust, adapt to do the things I like and not him imposing everything on me," he said.

Wahome prefers rallying on gravel than tarmac because the latter is a bit more forgiving.

 His car handling technique has greatly improved since he acquired the new Ford Fiesta R3 machine from the rallying global body FIA.

"The vehicle has a light at the rear-end so that helps us rotate the car quickly in twisty sections. "It can be a bit tricky in high-speed areas," said Wahome.

Just like Wahome, McRae will be driving a Ford Fiesta in Ramisi while Anwar will be behind the wheel in a Mitsubishi EvolutionX.

“I'm satisfied with the preparations we have done so far as a team and I am hopeful that we will do well and build up on our success in Ramisi,” said McRae.

KNRC Premier class driver Eric Bengi is also looking forward to the weekend event with great expectations.

"We are done with our preparations.The car was low on power in Machakos and this was coupled with other minor issues which we have rectified," said Bengi.

FIA rally driver Jeremy Wahome poses for a photo with his car as he prepares for KCB Ramisi Rally. [photo courtesy]

Defending champion Baldev Chager is currently lying third , 30 points behind series  leader Carl Tundo who is on 111 points.

Voi winner Karan Patel is second on 83.

Jasmeet Chana aka Iceman is placed fourth on 77 with WRC 3 Safari Rally winner Onkar Rai  on 73.

Apart from Ramisi, other rounds were held in  Nakuru, ARC Equator (Naivasha), WRC Safari Rally(Naivasha), Machakos and Voi.

After Ramisi, the competition will head to Nanyuki.

Current KNRC standing after fifth leg in Machakos

 1. Carl Tundo 111

2 Karan Patel  83

3 Baldev Chager 81

4 Jasmeet Chana 77

5 Onkar Rai  73

6 Tejveer Rai  49

7 Eric Bengi 46

8 Aakif Virani  40

9 Nikhil Sachania  38

10 Hamza Anwar  33

11 Evans Kavisi  32

12 Jeremy Wahome  30

13 Jas Mangat  21

13= Ian Duncan  21

15 McRae Kimathi

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