Mayes acquires new co-driver for weekend Guru Nanak rally

Drivers Amaanraj Rai and Tauseef Khan in Ford Escort during Safari Rally Championship at Jamhuri grounds on Friday, March 17, 2017. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Rally: British-based Charley Sayer-Payne will have her first overseas race

The seventh round of Kenya National Rally Championship will be held in Naivasha

Chui Safari Lodge manager Geoff Mayes will have a new co-driver calling the notes for him during the Guru Nanak Rally this weekend.

British Rally Championship regular Charley Sayer-Payne will fly to Kenya to experience her first overseas rally when she joins Mayes in his Kingsway Tyres supported Landrover V8. 

A year ago, Mayes scored an SPV podium with Scottish-born Jamie Mactavish at the Guru Nanak Rally.

This year, Mayes has high hopes for an even better result having completely rebuilt his rally raid car, including a total engine overhaul.

Mayes said: “Due to the long break between events this year we have done a lot of development work on the suspension, lost some weight and worked on making the car more reliable. The last step was an engine rebuild which has improved the torque and given us plenty more power too!”

Sayer-Payne has a string of overall podiums and fastest stage times in UK rallies but is relishing the unique challenges of competing in Africa.

“When I was asked if I wanted to compete, I jumped at the chance, but having watched Geoff in action, I think it could be a real adventure.” 

Mayes, who is a motorsport ambassador for ‘Hands off our Elephants’, is contesting both the Kenyan Rally Championship and the Kenyan Rally Raid Championship in the same car, with support from Silverspread Rally Team Meru, Kingsway Tyres, ExcelRide Suspension and Purdy Arms of Karen.

This year’s Guru Nanak will be held in Naivasha and Delamere farm on Sunday. 

According to Clerk of the Course Sinder Sudle, three stages Hay Gate-Eland (31.3km), Nyati (24.85km) and Aberdare (22.85km) will be repeated twice to make up a competitive mileage of 158km and a liaison distance of 196.31km.

The service park which will be visited thrice on the day and will be based at Bufallo Mall in Naivasha.

The designated spectator stage will be based at Aberdares Hill. 

The seventh round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) has attracted top competitors including series leader Ian Duncan (72points),  second placed Manvir Baryan (68points), speedster Tapio Laukkanen (63points) and fourth placed Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo (60points), fifth placed youngster Karan Patel (59points), sixth placed ‘Flying Singh’ Baldev Singh Chager (58points) seventh placed  former Kenya and Africa champion Jassi Chatthe on 36 among other top drivers.