Carl “Flash” Tundo first off the ramp in Meru Rally

Carl 'Flash' Tundo co-driven by Tim Jessop driving a Mitsubishi Evo 9 in action during the Guru Nanak Rally in Stoni Athi, Athi River area. [Standard Sports]

Kenya champion Carl “Flash” Tundo and his navigator Tim Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10 will be the first ones off the ramp in Saturday’s KCB Meru Rally. 

The duo currently ranked second on the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) will be fighting to dislodge high-flying Baldev Chager from the summit.

Tundo will be hoping to repeat the stellar performance he displayed in Nanyuki where he swept the ground with all his opponents at the expansive Loldaiga Ranch in September.

Behind Tundo will be Africa Rally Championship (ARC) Safari winners Chager and his partner Ravi Soni who will be hoping to give their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10 its third win of the season.

Tundo said: “It sounds wet which will be fun. The car has been ready since Guru Nanak was cancelled.

“We have not managed to test it but it should be good to go. Looking forward to rallying in Meru again, but hope a lot has been done to closing the roads as I am off first.”

Besides the championship tussle, fans in Meru will also savour a breathtaking battle putting the R4 EVOs against R5 Skoda and VW Polo of Manvir Baryan and Onkar Rai seeded third and fourth on the provisional start list.

Rai reunites with Gavin Laurence in his VW Polo which is yet to finish a rally on Kenyan soil since its debut on Mombasa Rally.

The R5s have proven quite formidable on African terrain with Baryan sealing a third straight continental ARC title. The R4 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10 drivers have been compelled to play catch up with the blistering pace of R5 machines.

Eric Bengi who is returning home this weekend, is seeded fifth ahead of Jasmeet Chana and Division 1 leader Karan Patel.

Bengi who joined the KNRC Premier Class this season is currently the fastest black indigenous driver.

He will be without his regular lady navigator Tuta Mionki who has been unwell.

As a result Peter Mutuma, another petrol-head from Menengai Cream stable, has been called upon to fill the void left behind by Mionki.

It’s a bitter pill to swallow for Mionki as the weekend’s event was going to be her 50th KNRC appearance on home turf.

She said: “It’s sad that I will not be racing on my home rally after all. I have been there once when Meru was part of the 2015 Safari Rally. We did quite well and I am hoping for a great performance.

“The fans are amazing and I remember them getting excited to see one of their daughters in a rally car.”

The KNRC has been to Nakuru, Naivasha, Kajiado, Mombasa, Nanyuki and now Meru following postponement of round 6, the Guru Nanak which was planned for Stoni Athi.