• The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 driver, who will be navigated by KCB Bank Group Customer Experience Director Job Njiru, said he is relishing the thought of starting ahead of fellow Premier Class speedsters.
• Meanwhile, Clerk of the Course Gopi Bharat Pattni confirmed that reconnaissance and pre-event scrutineering will be held on October 8.
Image: HANDOUT
Premier Class driver Issa Amwari is hopeful that his first career ‘road sweeping' duties on home roads will contribute to a decent finish at this weekend’s KCB Nanyuki Rally.
The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 driver, who will be navigated by KCB Bank Group Customer Experience Director Job Njiru, said he is relishing the thought of starting ahead of fellow Premier Class speedsters.
In the pecking order of front-runners, Amwari will be followed by defending champion Baldev Chager (VW Polo R5), Voi winner Karan Patel (Ford Fiesta R5) and the three Evolution 10s steered by five-time Safari winner Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, Eric Bengi and Jasmeet Chana.
“It’s never an advantage to start first especially after missing out on Ramisi last month. However, being my first road-sweeping experience in my home rally — having been on the reserve list in the Premier Class — evokes a feeling of anticipation and a chance for an honourable placing rolled into one,” said Amwari.
Meanwhile, Clerk of the Course Gopi Bharat Pattni confirmed that reconnaissance and pre-event scrutineering will be held on October 8.
It will not be business as usual as the organisers plan to rev off at the Graystone Service Park.
“We have moved the rally to a new ranch in Ole Naishu where the two main stages will be run,” said Pattni.
“The move from the traditional Service Park at Batian View has been informed by our quest to enforce Covid-19 protocols. It’s practically impossible for us to control the crowds in a public place like Batian.”
NRG will be running a 78.02km three-stage loop twice.
Two stages will be based in Ole Naishu with the Greystone special stage being the day’s Power Stage on its second run.
“I must say that should the heavens open, we will have the second part of the rally really wet,” said Gopi, adding that they could not get access to Loldaiga. All in all, the new route has got pretty much everything in there. We have the twists, tights, rocks and straights.”
The first stage is Mlima Hema which is 28.56km long while the second is Ole Naishu, a grueling 41.51km run followed by the 7.86km Super Special at Graystone.
KCB Nanyuki Rally Entry List
1 (10) Issa Amwari /Job Njiru (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
2 (1) Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (Volkswagen Polo R5)
3 (8) Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan (Ford Fiesta R5)
4 (3) Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
5 (7) Eric Bengi/Peter Mutuma (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
6 (9) Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Chana (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
7 (200) Amaanraj Rai-UG/Gurdeep Panesar (Skoda Fabia)
8 (23) Aakif Virani /Azhar Bhatti (Skoda Fabia R5)
9 (57) Hamza Anwar/Adnan Din (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
10 (24) McRae Kimathi/Mwangi Kioni (Ford Fiesta RC2)
11 (5) Ian Duncan/Tej Sehmi (Nissan 240)
12 (39) Nzioka Waita/Tuta Mionki (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
13 (55) Piero Canobbio/Shameer Yusuf ( Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
14 (20) Nikhil Sachania/Deep Patel ( Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
15 (25) Steve Mwangi /Dennis Mwenda (Subaru Impreza)
16 (53) Galib Hajee/Sinder Suddle ( Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
17 (58) Maxine Wahome/Linet Ayuko (Subaru Impreza)
18 (34) Daren Miranda/Amman Shah (Subaru Impreza)
19 (22) Edward Maina/Anthony Gichohi (Subaru Impreza)
20 (67) Kush Patel/Mudasar Chaudry (Subaru Impreza)
21 (35) Ramesh Vishram/Riyaz Ismail (Ford Escort MK2)
22 (64) Shakeel Khan/Assad Mughal (Ford Escort)
23 (37) Aslam Khan/Arshad Khan (Porsche 911)
24 (61) John Fernandes/Rattos Nique (Subaru Impreza)