• With the return of Piero and Naushad, Round 3 winner Izhar Mirza of Team Coast Pekee anticipates some cutthroat competition.
• “The Corolla is in good nick well in time and I am looking to shake off the rust,” says Kamlesh who has also been engaged in organizing MMC event over the past few years.”
Image: FILE
Former Coast champion Naushad Kara, Kamlesh Pandya and Piero Canobbio are set to make comebacks during this weekend’s Lota MMC Clubman Rally 4 at the MCL Vipingo seafront course.
Naushad, better known as “Mr Subaru” in Coast racing circles, hopes to dust off the cobwebs after a long two-year layoff.
He will be navigated by Adnan Din, one of Kenya’s four seasoned navigators currently co-driving the FIA Rally Stars in the African Rally Championship (ARC).
Adnan guided Hamza Anwar to a credible third place at the ARC Rally of Tanzania and will be looking to replicate the same or even go one better this weekend.
With the return of Piero and Naushad, Round 3 winner Izhar Mirza of Team Coast Pekee anticipates some cutthroat competition.
Piero is teaming up with Victor Okundi, who is also a navigator in the FIA Rally Star Program — introduced in Kenya last year.
“I can’t wait to grace the first time control. It’s been like two years and I am overly excited about it,” quipped Naushad.
Also in the MMC mix is Toyota Corolla’s never-say-never Kamlesh.
Kamlesh said: “The opportunity to race again has suddenly presented itself and I’m truly psyched up and spoiling for a fight.”
“The Corolla is in good nick well in time and I am looking to shake off the rust,” says Kamlesh who has also been engaged in organizing MMC event over the past few years.”
The buggy class has so far attracted two drivers in Inderjeet Puee of Team Nanak Engineering and Yusuf Pasta of Roadtainers Racing. The event will count towards the fourth round of Mombasa Motor Club (MMC)/Coast Rally Championship.
So far this year, the Championship has enjoyed support from two additional sponsors in Synergy Gases and Lota Motorsports. MMC Campionship consists of 6 rounds, Round 1 and 2 were sponsored by Mombasa Cement,
Round 3 was sponsored by Synergy Gases at the same venue. Round 4 — slated for Saturday — is proudly sponsored by Lota Motorsport.
The event will be held at Mombasa Cement Vipingo featuring two stages in the afternoon, followed by three stages at night.
“MMC has indeed classified the Championship into 6 rounds and three categories namely: 4WD, 2WD, and Buggy,.”
“MMC would also like to thank Mr Hasu Patel of Mombasa Cement for his endless support given to the Club believing in the team to hold safe and fun events,” Paras Pandya of MMC expounds.
Other competitors include Ali Mirza in a Subaru, rising star Abdulkadir Tarmal.
MMC Round 4 Entries (August 18)
1. Yusuf Pasta - Rage Buggy
2. Naushad Kara /Adnan Din- 4WD (Subaru)
3. Izhar Mirza /Gurveer Phandal - 4WD (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution)
4. Ali Mirza/Mubashar Khan - 4WD (Subaru Impreza)
5. Abdulkadir Tarmal/Asgar Kassam - 4WD
6. Abhijeet Puee/Ahmed Musa - 4WD
7. Inderjeet Puee - BUGGY
8. Kamlesh Pandya /PRAKASH JETAIN - 2WD (Toyota Corolla)
9. Piero Cannobio/victor Okundi - 4WD