Patel eyeing fourth KNRC win in Eldoret

Karan Patel in action during the ARC Equator Rally Kenya on April 3. [Courtesy, Standard]

The East African Classic Safari Rally (EASCR) will host the fourth round of the Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) series in Eldoret today.

Series leader Karan Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan are out to look for a fourth consecutive win after triumphing in the first three legs in Bisil, Nakuru and Naivasha.

The duo is enjoying a massive 23-point advantage over second-placed Jasmeet Chana while Two Wheel Drive champion Leonardo Varese and Steve Mwangi are tied for third on 36 points.

Khan is also topping the co-drivers standings on 102 points.

Apart from gunning for a domestic title, Patel and Khan are also chasing the continental trophy at the African Rally Championships where they are placed second behind leader Leroy Gomez of Zambia.

Only five events separate the duo from the domestic and continental titles.

The pair, that is currently enjoying a blistering form, became the first crew to win the first three opening rounds of the KNRC series, since Carl Tundo and Tim Jessop in 2009, when they won the Equator Rally in April.

If they win the EASCR Eldoret Rally this weekend, they will match Ian Duncan’s record of first four rounds victories recorded in 1993 in a Subaru Legacy.

The EASCR Eldoret Rally will be flagged off at the Rupa Mall at 6.30am.

Crews will then take a 71.44km transport road through to Cheptiret Primary where they will speed test a twisty and technical 23.26km stage.

The 34.8km A.T.C Stage is the longest on the itinerary. The section will be run twice.

“The first 19kms of A.T.C. going uphill will be very fast. The rest of the stage run will be challenging and rough in some places,” Clerk of the course Sinder Sudle explained.