Youngster Amaan Ganatra has his sights fixed on the 2WD title at the World Rally Championships Safari Rally on March 28-31.
Amaan won the 2WD non-turbo title during the National Autocross Championship at the Kasarani Super Special Stage over the weekend.
He relegated Jose Sardinha and Daniel Mwangi to second and third respectively. He also finished second in the 4WD turbo class, behind Eric Bengi.
The son of retired autocross and rally raid driver, Altaf Ganatra, said he was using the events as part of his build-up for Safari Rally.
"My immediate goal is to win the 2WD category. But I also see this as a valuable opportunity to gain experience in the competitive 4WD category," said Amaan, who clocked 5:09.00 for the win.
Cheche Ababu, who finished third in 6:04.78, emphasised the importance of autocross for beginners before one embarks on the WRC.
"This sport is fun. I’d like to continue it and hopefully, one day get into the WRC,” Ababu stated.
It was a family affair as brothers Allan and Eaan Bengi won the Pee Wee and Bambino classes respectively.
Rajveer Thethy beat defending champion John Kadivani to second place in the Open Class.
Event Organiser, Onkar Kalsi, said: "We have a lot of new entries this year which is so pleasant to see. I just love the fighting spirit among the participants."
Autocross serves as a feeder series for young budding drivers hoping to break into the Kenya National Rally Championships.
"Autocross is the grassroots level of motorsports in Kenya. It is a good feeder programme to the KNRC and the Safari Rally,” he noted.
Kalsi, the WRC Safari Deputy Clerk of the Course, is delighted with the return of Easter Safari.
"I believe the rally gods are with us whether we get the rain or not. If we didn't have a WRC in Kenya, we wouldn't have had the track on which we are running national autocross events. WRC's return has reignited grassroots motorsports in the country."
Since the Safari returned to Kenya in 2021, all three editions (2021, 2022, and 2023) were been held in June.
This year's Safari Rally will start at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), head to Kasarani SSS before embarking on the long transport section to Nakuru County for action in Naivasha.
The Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI) in Naivasha will be the Service Park while the Hells Gate National Park will be the event's closing stage.
