Tapio Laukkanen has taken over the Kenya National Rally Championship lead for the first time following a stellar performance in Eldoret over the weekend.
The former Britain and Finland champion claimed his third straight victory in the Western Kenya Motor Club round after leading from CS3 Chebiemit through to the last stage at Chemweno Farm.
The Flying Finn jointly led the opening Sergoit stage with Jossie Chatthe but lost the lead to the latter on the first run of the spectator stage at Chemweno Farm.
Fears of a cliffhanger, however, evaporated soon enough when Tapio bounced back to beat Chatthe by 1:08 minutes on the long 33km Chebiemit stage.
Tapio achieved his maiden victory on Eldoret in the 2015 edition at the world famous Flourspar-Nyaru region and repeated the feat twice in Moiben area in 2016 and 2017.
This was Tapio’s second win of the season after retiring from the season opening Mombasa Cement Rally and clinching his maiden ARC Safari Rally in Naivasha and Nakuru.
Following the weekend showdown, Tapio snatched the lead from Ian Duncan who dropped to third.
Tapio now leads the KNRC log with 63 points ahead of Carl Tundo (60) and Duncan (57).
As Tapio kept increasing the lead, Chatthe, Baldev Chager and Tundo were having a big scrap for the podium slots.
But it was Chatthe and Chager who emerged successful at second and third respectively as Tundo managed a fourth place finish with Manvir Baryan clinging on to fifth.
Tapio’s navigator Gavin Laurence was all smiles, saying: “It is such a great feeling not only winning but keeping up with the pace with one of the quickest drivers I have ever navigated.”
Tapio said: “It was a huge victory in Eldoret with absolutely no problems. Gavin has been key in the major victories this season.”
Among the casualties of the third round were Tejveer Rai with fuel pump problems and Eric Bengi who was time barred.