Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) leader Jasmeet Chana aka Iceman anticipates significant reliability from his Japanese marque in the four-day 2023 WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2023 slated for June 22-25 in Naivasha.
Iceman took over the lead from Jeremiah Wahome following a podium finish in the recently concluded ARC Equator Rally in Voi, where defending champion Karan Patel emerged as the victor.
The Nairobi-based driver is expected to drive his Japanese-made Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X in next month’s KNRC 3 Nakuru Rally, where he will test drive it and indeed fine-tune it, well in time for Kenya’s World rally Championship (WRC) leg.
During the iconic Safari, Iceman will strive to maintain his lead on the KNRC log as he will be taking part in the national category.
Jasmeet is currently one of the few drivers in the country to have won virtually all tiers of the KNRC— twice as 2WD champion, Group N and Division One among others.
He is currently the defending Group ‘N’ champion after finishing second in the KNRC main class last season behind Karan Patel.
In Voi, Iceman came third overall and second in KNRC, a performance that catapulted him to the summit of the national standings.
Sponsorship permitting, Iceman is keen to embark on a Rally 2 (the former R5) drive, with Skoda, VW and Ford Fiesta high on the list of his priorities.
“Right now, I feel I am cruising faster than ever. I am now driving my Evolution X at 100 percent potential and it is my hope that the car will be in the best possible shape on Safari,” said Chana following the title success.
“I have managed to get good positions in an underpowered car and I feel I can get a bit more speed if I upgrade. But then again, it will all depend on sponsorships to get to the next level of my driving career.”
“Let’s see what the future holds for me but I feel I need a super marque car to do competitive motorsport again,” he said.
Iceman is contesting the full season of the KNRC and hopes to lay his hands on the coveted main class title which is the only prize he is yet to win on the national circuit. He is determined to ruffle feathers despite the underpowered nature of the car as compared to the Rally 2s. The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, popularly referred to as the ‘Evo’, is a sports sedan and rally car based on the Lancer that was manufactured by Japanese manufacturer Mitsubishi Motors from 1992 until 2016.
KNRC calendar
Feb 4-5: KNRC 1 – RSC Rally (RSC)
Mar 18-19: KNRC2-ARC2 Equator Rally Kenya ( KMSF)
May 20-21: KNRC 3-Nakuru Rally (RVMSC)
Jun 22-25: KNRC 4 WRC Safari Rally Kenya (KMSF)
Aug 5-6 : KNRC 5- Nanyuki Rally (NRG)
Sep 9-10: KNRC 6- Mombasa Rally - MMC
Oct 7-8: KNRC 7 - KMSC Rally (KMSC)
Nov 4-5: KNRC 8 Guru Nanak Rally- SUC
Dec 2-3: KNRC 9 – KRT Rally (KRT)
