Chager Romps To Kajiado Rally Victory, SportPesa Team's Varese Retires

3rd March 2019 - by Erick Ochieng

'Flying Sikh' seals wire to wire triumph ahead of African champion Baryan and KNRC titleholder, 'Flash' Tundo in second round of domestic championship

From left, Baldev Chager of Kabras Racing team who emerged first in the KCB Kajiado Rally championship, KCB Kajiado branch manager Dickson Ng’eno, Baldev’s navigator Ravi Soni during the rally awarding ceremony in Kajiado county.PHOTO/SPN

SUMMARY

Varese and his navigator Kigondu Kareithi were well on course for a respectable finish having covered the first two stages at Andy Corner and Kenjoro but their first outing of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) of the season ended in despair as a broken suspension arm on the first service out compelled them to bow out
In the race for the main KNRC, title, 'Flying Sikh' Chager drove like a man possessed, winning four of the five stages in completing a commanding wire to wire victory achieved in 1:30.44
KNRC title holder, Carl 'Flash' Tundo with his long time navigator Tim Jessop led another Evo X to round off the podium in 1:31.16. Tundo candidly admitted he was outpaced by Chager and Manvir

KAJIADO, Kenya- Former champion Baldev Singh Chager ruled the roost in Kajiado on Sunday as SportPesa Rally Team ace Leonardo Varese was forced to retire.

Varese and his navigator Kigondu Kareithi were well on course for a respectable finish having covered the first two stages at Andy Corner and Kenjoro but their first outing of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) of the season ended in despair as a broken suspension arm on the first service out compelled them to bow out.

The five-time Formula 2 national champion entered his new Toyota Auris to the second round of the KNRC hoping to pick up from where he left off in 2017 following the comeback of the global entertainment and technology firm to his stable earlier this week.

In the race for the main KNRC, title, 'Flying Sikh' Chager drove like a man possessed, winning four of the five stages in completing a commanding wire to wire victory achieved in 1:30.44.

The Mitsubishi Evo X driver with Ravi Soni reading the pace notes was 36 seconds ahead of African champion Manvir Baryan co-driven by Drew Sturrock in a Skoda Fabia R5.

KNRC title holder, Carl 'Flash' Tundo with his long time navigator Tim Jessop led another Evo X to round off the podium in 1:31.16. Tundo candidly admitted he was outpaced by Chager and Manvir.

In the absence of Onkar Rai who won the season-opening Nakuru Rally, Chager takes over the series which he is now on the lead with 43 points as Tundo retains second spot with 39.

“"I'm very happy that the Evolution has beaten the Skoda. The car was faultless throughout the rally and its one of those days when everything goes as planned,” Chager underlined after the victory.

“Eldoret is a few weeks to come and the strategy is to take it as it comes. Our lead in the championship is not a comfortable one considering that Flash (Tundo) is only four points adrift,” he undercsored.

Baryan on his part noted: "Everything went well today apart from the first stage in the morning. The setup of the suspension was too soft so we had issues on the jumps but all in all I'm happy with second position."

"I got beaten properly today. We lost the exhaust quite earlier in the first stage and thought it was a crankshaft, so we lost quite a bit of power. It didn't feel right today but third overall is okay,” highlighted Tundo.

The event, flagged off by Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku outside KCB Kajiado branch, witnessed a high level of attrition as out of 27 starters, only 14 survived the demanding course.

The 33km Andy's corner stage proved quite unforgiving to many of the crews. Among those who went out on this stage included Aakif Virani (broken suspension arm), Dinesh Sachania (engine failure), Rajay Sehmi (engine) and Edward Maina.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for Eric Bengi and Tuta Mionki who suffered their second straight retirement on their ex Farhaaz Khan Mitsubishi Lancer.

Eldoret's Western Kenya Motor Club will host the third round of the KNRC in early April.

TOP TEN RESULTS-KAJIADO RALLY

1. Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (EVOX R4)

1:30.44

2. Manvir Baryan/Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia R5)

1:31.16

3. Carl 'Flash' Tundo/Tim Jessop (EVOX R4)

1:31.44

4. Izhar Mirza/Kavit Dave (EVOX)

1:39.51

5. Tej Rai/Gavin Laurence (EVOX R4)

1:49.21

6. Karan Patel/James Mwangi (EVOX)

1:42.34

7. Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Soni (EVOX)

1:43.46

8. Sohanjeet Puee/Adnan Din (Subaru N10)

1:48.27

9. Ammar Haq/Victor Okundi (EVOX)

1:50.43

10. Jonathan Somen/Richard Hechle (Ford Escort MK2)

1:53.03