Carl “Flash” Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 secured his first win of the season following a dramatic end to the Sikh Union Club organized Guru Nanak Rally in Naivasha.
Sealing the podium dash were two former Kenya National Rally Champions Baldev Singh Chager and Jaspreet Singh Chatthe in what ended up with a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 clean sweep.
Tundo, the winner of the Guru Nanak for the fourth time in his rallying career, had this say in the dry and dusty conditions: ”I am chuffed to win my first rally after a long time. I think the long gap in the KNRC calendar must have added extra energy and strength in my performance. I was really impressed with my performance at the end of the rally. Setting fastest stage times in all the sections was something special for me. It is great to win a rally after long.”
Tundo’s navigator Tim Jessop was all smiles: ”It went very well for us right from the start to the end. We set fastest stage times in all the stages to prove the car and its drivers behaved well and to the true tune of the competition. We are very happy to get back to winning ways. The rally was good,” said Jessop.
The win was the first for Mitsubishi this season after Tapio Laukkanen and Manvir Baryan clinched a double each in a Subaru Impreza and Skoda respectively during the first four rallies .
Tapio won the Safari and in Eldoret while Manvir was the victor in the season opener in Mombasa and RSC Rally in Kajiado.
This weekend, it was a bitter pill for Laukannen to swallow after stomach problems forced him to retire in the first section. Skoda Fabia driver Manvir Baryan drove his heart out following early morning gremlins only to run out of fuel in the letter stages after he had managed second at penultimate section.
Raaji Singh Bharij and Amaanraj Rai also retired in the early stages of the event .
A total of 34 cars started the rally which was graced by H.E. Lee Kinyanjui Governor Nakuru County.
First out was Manvir Baryan, then Carl then Onkar Rai. The competitors covered 6 competitive stages with the designated spectator stage being centred at Abardare Golf Resort . The rally ended at Buffalo Mall with prize giving at 5.30pm.
The next rally will be held on the weekend of November 11-12 organized by Kenya Motor Sports Club (KMSC).
Provisional Final Results
- Carl Flash Tundo /Tim Jessop (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:28:33hours
- Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:31:19hours
- Jaspreet Singh Chatthe (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:32:10hours
4 Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:32:42hours
5 Onkar Rai/Gareth Dawe (Skoda Fabia R5) 01:33:40hours
6 Karen Patel /James Mwangi (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:38:24hours
- Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Chana (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10) 01:39:23hours
Courtesy