Rally drivers set for Ravine challenge

By FeverPitch Reporter

It’s all systems go as KCB S&L Mortgages Rally heads to all-new routes in the hills and forests of Eldama Ravine this weekend.

Clerk of the Course, Frank Tundo has described the route as the tightest, and the toughest in this year’s KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) so far.

The event-organised by Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club takes place on Saturday with the first car departing from the KCB Eldama Ravine Branch at 7am.

All of the rallying action is centred around the Eldama Ravine with spectators able to watch the cars in action at Eldama Ravine Stadium throughout the day.

Alistair Cavenagh tackles a dusty section in a past rally. [PHOTO: SAMUEL NYAKONDO/STANDARD]

"It’s a navigators’ nightmare and will require extra caution from crews," said Tundo, a veteran of the Safari Rally.

He said four stages including the Ravine spectator stage will be repeated twice to make up a total of eight competitive stages.

As heavy rains continued pounding the area, some teams had a feel of the route on Saturday and Sunday during initial recce. The second batch of crews will undergo reconnaissance on Thursday and Friday well in time for high-octane action on Saturday.

While rallying action is set to take centre stage on Saturday, title sponsors Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) will tomorrow conduct a Community Social Responsibility event at Kipkaber Primary School in Eldama Ravine.

The CSR event will be presided over by the Company Secretary of KCB David Malakwen. During the exercise, the Bank will donate 60 students’ desks, an assortment of text and revision books, one water tank and 50 indigenous seedlings.

Meanwhile, the battle for KNRC and 2WD Championship titles will be the highlight of the Ravine tour with several crews hoping to maximise on Championship points.

But the ‘big bulls’ of KNRC will be compelled to up their game with South African based two-times Safari Rally Champion Lee Rose making a comeback to his former home rally.

Rose has since relocated to Nelspruit, near the Mozambique border and is currently on holiday in Kenya with his parents.

The KNRC class has attracted 43 drivers. Series leader Ian Duncan hopes to maintain his dogged campaign in search of a sixth KNRC diadem with the likes of Carl "Flash" Tundo, Peter Horsey, Jas Mangat, Baldev Chager and Alistair Cavenagh also anticipated to charge aggressively.