Two-man season

By OSCAR PILIPILI

Speed, dust and high-temperatures culminated the 2011 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) at Mariakani’s Mnyenzeni Primary School on December 11.

This was during the KCB Mtaani Rally which crowned James Kirimi the undisputed champion of Kenya Formula Two (2WD) Championship.

Legendary Ian Duncan won the season-closing round in Mariakani after sealing his sixth KNRC career title at the popular KCB Guru Nanak Rally in October.

Interest levels and ever expanding entry lists were a key feature in the 2011 season.

KCB Mtaani Rally, better known as Mombasa Rally, came immediately after the KQ Classic Safari Rally.

As usual, the Guru Nanak had a bumper entry with classic drivers keen to test their cars before the Classic and it was Carl Tundo who stole the show with emphatic victory in the Simba Union round. But Tundo wrapped up his KNRC campaign in second place.

Frank Tundo, 61, drove his son’s EVO9 and came home fifth overall in Mariakani navigated by his daughter Tash Tundo, but was incidentally 11 minutes slower than the winner (Duncan).

Frank used was back to fill the void left behind when his newly wed son who was in a honeymoon.

This was Frank’s first appearance in 25 years and he admitted that his speed was below par.

"I’m still very slow at the moment," said Frank, a long standing Safari Rally veteran.

For Azar Anwar, 57, age was nothing but a number. Azar who finished the KNRC in third this year stunned all after winning Eldoret Rally.

"My Evo 8 is older and a bit slower so I am always forced to push harder and it keeps up resulting in more damage and punctures," said Azar.

In all, the KNRC has been a one horse race this year with Duncan leading the battle. Duncan won four of the eight rallies.

He and Onkar Singh Rai were the only ones to have finished every single event this year.

That is the recipe for winning championships as seen in the past with Tundo, Alastair Cavenagh and Baldev Chager etc.

Duncan was, however, often troubled in stage times by the Dalbit Mitsubishis of Cavenagh and Tundo who seem to max it out and then have retirements or gremlins.

Baldev was the talk of town in Mariakani when he cleared the ground with all and sundry.