Chana seeking Guru Nanak Rally glory

Jasmeet Chana navigated by Ravinder Chana driving Mitsubishi Lancer cruises through Oserian section during WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2021 at Oserian section in Naivasha on June 25, 2021. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series leader Jasmeet Chana believes he has all the skills to win the Guru Nanak rally on Saturday in Voi, Taita Taveta County.

Chana will be in Voi for the KNRC rally where the battle is expected to be between him and rival Karan Patel where maximum attack is expected.

Chana heads into season-closing title decider nine- points ahead of Patel, with 30 points to play for in the Sikh Union Club-organised rally.

Patel will pilot a Ford Fiesta Rally2 in the event which starts at Voi Wildlife Lodge and finishes at the expansive Teita Estate on Saturday.

All he needs is to win the event outright and score a maximum three points on the power stage to be on the safe side and make him the champion if Chana aka Iceman finishes second but doesn't score on the power stage.

Patel heads into the rally off the back of a sixth victory of the season last time out in Machakos where he reignited his title hopes by lowering Chana's initial 20 -point advantage to nine.

Kilifi Bamba Rally saw Patel retire with gearbox gremlins but it will be interesting to see how the championship tussle pans out in the vast and hilly Taita Taveta County.

While Patel remains a firm favorite given his nature of Rally2 Fiesta- and by extension- his 'fast and furious' cockpit antics, he is expecting to face an equally title-thirsty Chana in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10.

Both Chana and Patel have yet to lay their hands on the coveted KNRC title currently held by Carl "Flash" Tundo.

However, Chana feels good, excited and really motivated to start his Voi campaign at the summit of the series.

"It has become a bit tighter now after the penultimate Machakos round. So, hopefully let's see how it goes in Voi," he said. [Ernest Ndunda]