The KCB SUC Guru Nanak rally took place in II-Bissil on December 13, 2021. The last and final round of the Kenya National Rally Championship saw Kabra’s Sugar Racing’s Baldev Singh Charger and co-driver Ravi Soni in their Volkswagen Polo R5 shine bright and come out first with a total time of 1:20:47.2 in a competitive distance of 217.76km. The Sikh Union Club organized event saw Charger dominate throughout most of the sections, the course was demanding and challenging as the dust and heat flared through the day. In an interview given to the press, Charger said, “It’s absolutely fantastic emerging the winner in the Guru Nanak rally which is our home event. I must congratulate my navigator Ravi Soni for a great season and the team which has been spot on with all preparations.” Charger won the power stage and received a special award, the Puran Singh Julta Memorial trophy.
Filmico Racing’s Karan Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan came in second place in their Ford Fiesta R5 with a time of 1:22:42.1. Patel put on a good performance to score second in this rally and has been consistent the whole season despite not taking part in some of the rallies. He is one-to-watch in the next season.
Top Fry’s Carl “Flash” Tundo and navigator Timothy Jessop came in third place in their Mitsubishi Evolution 10 at a time of 1:28:30.8 and scored points to make them the victors in the KNRC this season; closing the season with 187points. Tundo was crowned champion this season but also was already the African Rally Championship (ARC) champion earlier this year after winning the Rwanda Gorilla rally making him a double champion. Speaking to the press, Tundo said, “It’s such an amazing feeling completing a double of championship wins. We needed a top nine finish today to win the championship, so we took it slowly and we are happy to finish third overall in the event and win out fifth KNRC title.”
Rounding out the top five were, Menengai Cream Racing’s Eric Bengi and co-driver Peter Mutuma in their Mitsubishi Evolution 10 at a time of 1:31:48.3 in fourth place and Jaguar Petroleum/CRS Racing Team’s Jasmeet Chana and co-driver brother Ravi Chana in their Mitsubishi Evo 10 with a time of 1:37:21.4 in fifth place.
Out of the 18 entries on the start of the rally, only 11 managed to complete the event! The causalities of the rally included Amanraaj Rai and co-driver Panesar Gurdeep who retired in SS1 their Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo, Patel Kush and navigator Chaudry Mudasar retired in SS1 their Subaru Impreza, Maxine Wahome and navigator Linet Ayuko retired in SS3 their Subaru Impreza, Canobbio Piero and co-driver Yusuf Shameer Ole retired in SS1 their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4, Evans Kavisi and navigator Victor Okundi retired in SS3 their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, Aakif Virani and navigator Bhatti Azhar retired in SS3 their Skoda Fabia R5, and Sachania Nikhil and navigator Patel Deep retired in SS3 their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X.
The final KNRC standings for this season: Carl Tundo with 187points in first place, Baldev Charger with 174points in second, Jasmeet Chana with 137points in third, Karan Patel with 110points in fourth, Aakif Virani with 93points in fifth, and Onkar Rai (who pulled out of the season) with 73points in sixth place. The drivers will take a break and resume a new season in January 2022.
