With the 34th Guru Nanak Rally having become part of rallying history, the Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) organised KCB Kilifi Rally moves to North Coast this Saturday with crews preparing for a great Grand Finale.
This will be the first time in four years that a Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) event revisits Kilifi region. Last year, the MMC round of the KNRC was held in South Coast.
The 2013 2WD champion Dennis Mwenda has announced that he will not take the coast tour for granted despite the fact that he has the Formula Two title in the bag.
Mwenda said he will be using Kilifi event to test drive his Toyota Sprinter GT ahead of his title defence next season. Kilifi folds the curtains to the eight-leg series which is indeed one of the fastest events on the calendar, given the smooth nature of roads in the region.
“We would like to make the car a lot stronger and reliable and therefore we never stop learning,” said Mwenda who is being navigated by Edward Njoroge.
Mwenda and Njoroge were crowned the 2WD champions despite not finishing in the last two events in Kisumu and Guru Nanak. In Kisumu, Mwenda went down a cliff though with superficial damages while all 2WD cars failed to finish in the Guru Nanak.
The 2WD class has attracted top Nairobi drivers including Sammy Nyorri (Vitz), Leo Varese (Toyota Corolla), Gurmit Thethy (VW Golf MK3), Charan Thethy and his sibling Dalbir Thethy.
MMC chairman Roy McKenzie exuded confidence that the Kilifi set up will be enjoyable to competitors and spectators alike. The event is bound to renew rivalry from various divisions with KNRC champion and Safari Rally winner Baldev Chager hoping to rack up more championship points.
Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, Ian Duncan and Azar Anwar who are ranked second, third and fourth respectively will be aiming for the runners up position in the championship.
Notable absentee will be Alastair Cavenagh who is preparing his MK2 Ford Escort for the KQ East African Safari Classic Rally. The coast team will be led by Peter and his brother Alex Horsey.
Others from Mombasa include Naushad Kara Lota in a Subaru N12, Izhar Mirza in the KNRC Division 2 and Victor Okundi who is entering a Toyota Vitz.
Reconnaissance for the season closer is scheduled for Friday from 6am to 16pm with only two passages per crew allowed per car, according to clerk of the course, Roy McKenzie.
Scrutineering and documentation will also be held on Friday from 11am to 5pm at the Concord Motors Kilifi. The ceremonial finish shall take place on Saturday from 4pm onwards at KCB branch Kilifi.