Star-studded field for Kajiado: Rally Duncan leads top names set for battle

Eric Bengi and Tuta Monki in a Subaru N12 during a past rally. They will be in action at the Fly540 Rally in Kajiado on Saturday.

Fly540 sponsored event on today with 39 drivers set to compete.

A total of 39 crews, 10 in the premier Kenya rally car category will start today’s Fly540 RSC Rally.

Six-time champion Ian Duncan heads the seeded entry list, with defending champion Tapio Laukkanen second, according to names released by Kenya Motor Sports Federation secretariat.

Former African champion Jaspreet “Jassi” Chatthe and his partner Gurdeep Panesar “Gugu” will take off in third position under ‘Team Kibos’ banner.

MRT’s Manvir Baryan and Onkar Rai of Kabras Sugar Racing are the two emerging Kenya National Rally Championship stars and both will pilot the much-anticipated new Skoda Fabia R5 on its fourth outing on Kenyan soil.

The rest of the Kabras drivers -Baldev “Boldy” Chager and Tejveer Rai -will steer Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 R4s which are equally competitive.

There is also an ex-Rajbir Rai Fiesta Fiesta R5 for youngster Amaanraj Rai, Rising star Karan Patel and former multiple KNRC champion Carl “Flash” Tundo will drive Mitsubishi Evolution 10s.

A fierce fight is in prospect in the Classic Car category, which has attracted five entries with a mix of cars including Mark1 and Mark2 Ford Escorts and Datsuns.

Raaji Bharij (Ford Escort MK1), Ramesh Vishram (Ford Escort MK2) and Jonathan Somen (Ford Escort Mk2) head the Ford runners while Stefano Roca is back in a Datsun 280Z and will be navigated by former KNRC Champion Pier Daykin.

Rajwinder Jutely will rev at the wheel of a Datsun 160J.

There are three entries in the Group S competition which is a preserve of cars of expired homologation.

Newcomer Gerald Maina aka “G-Captain” and Mombasa based youngster Sohanjeet Puee of Team Nanak are among other notable drivers entered in the S Class of the event.

Clerk of the course, Frank Gitau said the rally will be flagged-off at Galleria Mall from 7am.

“Rally cars will then tackle a 28km transport road section through to the first stage at Oldonyati. Rally traffic will then proceed into a Remote Refuel zone, through to the 53km stage at Oldokilani.

Crews will then tackle the 32km stretch (CS3) from Kajiado to Kipeto.

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Kenya rally