Gurus on parade

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

Who will be the ultimate Guru on Sunday? This has been the mind-boggling question as the KCB Guru Nanak Rally folds curtains of the 2010 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series in Kajiado and Il-Bissel this weekend.

Despite battling it out with Baldev Chager for the KNRC runner-up spot, the five times former Kenya Rally champion and 1994 WRC Safari Rally winner, Ian Duncan will be hoping to secure a record 12th Guru Nanak title on his massive Nissan Hard Body pickup.

Duncan has previously exhibited a superior drive around Kajiado area and won the Guru Nanak Rally four years in a row (from 1986 to 1989).

Indefatigable Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo holds vivid memories of whe

Newly crowned 2WD Champion, Leonardo Varese in a Jade Petroleum VW Golf GTi, (above), outgoing Division Three Champion Said Hamad in a Subaru N12 (below) and immediate former 2WD Champion Jasmeet Chana (Toyota Celica GT4) in action. [PHOTOS : SAMUEL NYAKONDO /STANDARD]

Tundo, the immediate former KNRC champion, has taken pole position at the Guru Nanak in regards to the rotational seeding system that alternates among the top seven fastest drivers and will incidentally sweep the road for 68 drivers, 17 of who are entered in the 2WD class.

Double champion

Coming off the ramp second is Chager who will be followed by double champion (2003 and 2004) Lee Rose, newly crowned Champion Alastair Cavenagh, Azar Anwar and Ian Duncan.

Newly crowned Ugandan champion Nasser Mutebi, Ponsiano Lwakataka, a retiree in Ganze and Jas Mangat return to Kenya teaming up with compatriots Dr Ahmed Ashraf, Godfrey Lubega and Edson Mungereza to carry the Ugandan flag.

Ugandans have vowed to upset the formbook with good-humoured rivalry anticipated to linger on.

Fingers will be crossed in the considerably explosive Two Wheel Drive Class with master of spectator stages. Asad Anwar will be driving an underpowered Subaru Pickup amongst the 17 Formula Twos on parade.

Financial constraints

Anwar, who has opted to the second tier 2WD series owing to financial constraints, is highly anticipated to shine, being one of the elite KNRC drivers. Newly crowned 2WD champion Leonardo Varese, former champion Deep Chana, James Kirimi and Munir Khan will also be on the charge.

The 2WD Class has good representation from Coast province including Mwatate based Philip Kyriazi, Nadeem Kana, Jitendra ‘Jitu’ Davda and Naveed Khalid.

The rally will not be business as usual as combatants will be required to sample the rigors of two new sections, one of them running between Mashuru and Bull’s Eye (46.7km) as well as the 39.80km stage from Ndialongoi to Ngatataik.

Mashuru-Bull’s Eye is a spectator point that is laden with trees and a picturesque landscape as spectators can view rally cars drifting downhill into the flying finish. Spectators will view cars twice on CS2 and it’s repeat run on CS5.

The event total is 501km including 192.00km of competitive mileage and 309km of the long transport road section. It will be flagged off outside KCB Kajiado Branch at 8am on Sunday with the first car expected at Simba Union finish podium ceremony from 5.00Ppm.