Tundo first off the ramp as MMC KNRC zooms in Kilifi

[PHOTO: COURTESY]

Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, navigated by Tim Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, will be the first one off the ramp as the sixth leg of the 2018 Kenya National Rally Championship zooms off in Kilifi County today.

The Top Fry sponsored driver attempts to kill two birds with one stone as he seeks to win his fourth successive rally of the season at sea level.

He leads the KNRC log with 100 points against ‘Flying Singh’ Baldev Chager who, despite retiring on the belated third round at Lisa Farm, retained the second spot with 71 points.

The rally, co-sponsored by KCB and Mombasa Cement Limited, will be flagged off at Mombasa Cement Limited Farm in Vipingo after which drivers will try out the coast terrain in remote parts of Kilifi. The cars traverse Bamba and Ganze regions, which have from time immemorial been synonymous with the Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) Rally.

Second off the ramp is Onkar Singh Rai, who will be navigated by Gavin Laurence in a Skoda Fabia R5.
Sadly, Coast fans will miss the second R5 Skoda after reigning African champion Manvir Baryan decided to give the Coast tour a wide berth. Manvir is away in London attending to a family function.

“I’m not very keen on the KNRC title this season as I will be missing out on two events. We are at the moment committed to recapturing the continental title and we shall be driving on the forthcoming Rally of Tanzania soon,” said Manvir.

Chager, who retired on the KMSC leg last month with a 1.30 minutes lead, has been seeded third ahead of Subaru’s Eric Bengi, Tejveer Rai, Jasmeet Ghana and Farhaaz Khan. Bengi tops Group N infont of Farhaaz.