Amana Rally: Varese crowned
By FP Correspondent
It was double glory for the Jade Petroleum Racing team of Leonardo Varese and his navigator Kigondu ‘KV’ Kareithi as they sealed Formula Two championship titles in fashion during the KCB Amana Banking Rally done around Ganze area on Sunday.
Leonardo Varese and Kigondu ‘KV’ Kareithi on their way to sealing 2WD victory in Ganze on Sunday in the Amana Rally. [PHOTO: SAMUEL NYAKONDO/STANDARD] |
"It’s an absolutely amazing feeling! Today (Sunday) was about beating Munir (Khan) and second place to Adnan (Suhail) was good enough," said Varese, who had words of praise to his sponsors and his mentor Charan Thethy of Pro Motors. "Munir pushed us so hard this season, so let the celebrations begin," he said.
Varese drove his VW Golf GTi to the Ganze Secondary School finish-approximately 35Kms from Kilifi town not knowing he had sealed the 2WD title at the penultimate stage.
But with quite a bit of arithmetic at the service park, he and ‘KV’ were elated on learning that their lead was unassailable with only next month’s KCB Guru Nanak Rally to spare.
Subsequently, Varese also learned from a mouthy fellow in service that he had entered his name in the annals of Formula Two history despite cruising home second.
Having already won his first 2WD Championship in 2008, Varese and the 2009 champion Jasmet Chana are the only drivers with two 2WD titles under their belts behind Sammy Aslam having the most titles (four) wins.
He took it quite easy in the first stage, but his aggressive driving on CS2 wasn’t quite enough to stop Suhail (Daihatsu Special) who registered his maiden 2WD win.
For Varese, Suhail wasn’t his major worry "as he was out of contention in Kajiado." I was in a battle with Munir (Khan) and it was all about securing the title. I will surely push to the limit at the Guru Nanak Rally," Varese said.
There was some good humoured rivalry in service as Suhail said Varese had been a beneficiary of his gremlins.
But Varese admitted that luck is part of the game. "I have been very unlucky this season. In Nakuru Rally, we were well on course for a win until a fuel leak stymied our run. In Kajiado, we encountered a puncture in the last stage and three tyre bursts in Meru were also very disheartening."