By FP REPORTER
Veteran John Rose, 60, and rally ace Asad Anwar are among top competitors expected for the first round of the Fina Bank Cross Country Challenge Rally in Selengai on March 1.
Rose, father to reigning Safari rally Champion Lee Rose an enduro stalwart will ride a KTM bike.
Asad who is the defending car class champion teams up with OiLibya’s Norris Ongalo who guided him to the title last year.
The event, which also doubles up as the first round of the National Enduro Championship goes down in history as the longest with a 56km loop.
Lodaiga hills
Organisers got a shot in the arm when Fina Bank came on board to sponsor the three-round cross-country series. The bank also sponsored the last round of the series in Loldaiga Hills, near Nanyuki last year.
The car class is expected to be a hotly contested affair with several of last season’s participants signing up for the event.
Rhino Charge girls Caroline and Linda are preparing for the event just as is Nick Lakhani on his Land Cruiser.
Ken Anunda, 16, will join the fray in a Toyota Land Cruiser VX and so would Captain Steve Waiyaki.
Quad champion Shazar Anwar will seek inspiration from his father, Azar Anwar, the 2008 Motor sportsman of the year going for honours in his Bombardier quad.
He will face stiff opposition from Mike Ogden. Mike Ogwapit has now switched from quads to bikes.
Buggy class
The buggy class has attracted a good entry, too. Ricky Brandon, the Hughes siblings John and Mickey, 2007 autocross champion Glen Behr and Soni siblings Chirag and Bhavik have all signed up for the buggies class.
The bikes class has defending champion Andrew Pleasance, enduro champion Anthony Nielsen (Yamaha 450), motocross ace Shivam Vinayak (Yamaha 250). Shivam is the reigning Enduro 125cc class champion. Salim Walimohammed is set to make a robust return to the series on his KTM contraption.
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Clerk of the course, Dave Macharia was upbeat after the final route survey. Macharia said the route is a mix of rough,dry and sand.
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