Motorsport: Onkar's new R5 beast top seed at KCB Kilifi rally

Onkar Rai in action during a past rally [Courtesy]

Premier class driver Onkar Singh Rai will be the first one off the ramp when the KCB Kilifi Rally revs off today.

Navigated by Gareth Dawe, the former Division 2 champion will savour his first ride on the VW Polo R5, which is the latest super car to grace the eight-leg Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).

Onkar has already tested the Polo locally and will be among star attractions in Kilifi. But a lot await as the 23 cars start in the fourth round of KNRC series at Mombasa Cement Limited today.

Onkar's teammate Baldev Chager reiterated that R5s are stronger. Chager is seeded second in the Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) organized round and targets a hat trick in a Mitsubishi Evolution 10- R4.

Seeded third is another Kabras driver Tejveer Rai, who will be teaming up with Gavin by Laurence in another R4 Mitsubishi Evolution 10.

Newly crowned FIA African rally champion Manvir Baryan will be flagged off in fourth slot alongside his British co-driver Drew Sturrock.

Manvir will drive a Skoda Fabia R5 model, which has dominated Africa in the past three seasons. Although Onkar’s Skoda won the season-opening Nakuru Rally while Manvir’s Skoda is yet to register a win this season.

Manvir, who skipped Nakuru, lost the WRC Candidate Safari Rally on the last stretch after his Skoda was sucked in dust at Kedong. He also saw his fingers slip through Kadiado after Chager beat him by a mere 36 seconds.

Chager ahead of today's Kilifi rally: “I’m approaching Kilifi with a lot of respect despite all the confidence from my back to back wins. The strategy is like every other KNRC; really nothing different at all. We will do our best and possibly can. But it’s a fact that the R5s will be better and there’s no comparison with Evos." [Standard Sports]