READY to ZOOM OFF: Tapio, Mangat lead foreign brigade in KCB Kajiado rally

After a fast and furious drive last season, Tapio Laukkanen leads foreign drivers enlisted for the KCB Kajiado Rally on Saturday.

Tapio and his MRT teammate Manvir Baryan have already handed in their entries ahead of today's registration deadline.

The closing date for entries was extended by two days, according to a statement released by Kenya Motor Sports Federation on Monday morning.

Tapio won four out of the eight rounds staged last year. Tanzanian rally driver Jamil Hamid Khan has also presented his entry and will be navigated by Ugandan Moses Matovu.

Other foreigners include Britain's Drew Sturrock, who is navigating Baryan. The other is David Israel from Ivory Coast, who will co-drive Jas Mangat of Uganda, while Finn Passi Torma will team-up with compatriot Laukkanen.

Meanwhile, youngster Mcrae Kimathi has acquired the services of a new navigator. Mcrae, who is a son of former rally driver Phineas Kimathi, replaced his regular navigator George Mwangi with Steve Njenga.

The young Kimathi will be for gunning for his maiden finish after retiring in the last three rallies. He made his rally debut last year.

"The car is ready and we will approach the Kajiado rally with an aim of finishing the race. Hopefully, there will be no drama," Kimathi 'junior' said.

But does he have any challenges being a second generation driver?

"Mainly it's the pressure that comes with it. Rallying is a sport where experience counts most. For you to get experience, you need time. That time is reduced when one is considered a second generation driver.

"Every time I retire from a race, it comes with lots of frustrations, because I really need the kilometers to gain experience. But it made me even stronger mentally and accepted that some things are beyond my control."