James Kirimi finally broke his Formula Two duck with an emphatic win in the KCB Personal Loans Rally in Voi.
The Komatsu sponsored driver navigated by Kimeli Korir in a VW Golf Gti was elated that his title campaign had started on an enterprising note.
The closest Kirimi has ever come to victory was in 2009 RSC Thika Rally where he scooped second overall and has since shown aggressive driving, but a win had eluded him.
Voi event was a great start for the driver as he goes for the title but it will be interesting to see whether he will maintain the pace.
“It was a sweet feeling when I realised I won. This is just the beginning but we plan to mantain the pace and definitely go for the championship. We are in it to win,” said Kirimi.
The elated driver said he found the route ok but stage two was quite rough.
Joel Muchiri was also all smiles after clinching his first ever podium position.
Muchiri, a protege of Azar Anwar Motorsports was thrilled with the fantastic results but reckoned he could have won had he not stopped in stage one to check his car after a badly taken jump.
Muchiri and his navigator Riyaz Ishmail have been on the rise since they joined the sport late last year finishing seventh, fifth, fourth and now second. Metrix Hardware sponsored Gurmit Thethy completed the podium trio in a time of 64.40, two minutes 24 seconds adrift of the winner.
This is his third podium finish with the first coming back in 2007 (KCB Simba Savings Rally) and the 2nd in last year’s Guru Nanak Rally.
The Golf Gti driver partnered with Depinder Kalsi.
Alistair Cavenagh was off to a great start after leading the rally from start to finish, an amazing feat considering he was the road sweeper.
It was a promising start for both Dalbit Team drivers with Carl Tundo taking second to the seemingly omnipresent Cavenagh.
In the morning test at one point Tundo was only seconds behind Cavenagh, but a quick one and-a-half minute stop in stage five cost him four positions but Tundo responded with typical power and precision and took back his second position from Ian Duncan.
Meanwhile, injured Renault driver Robert Kubica says he is planning to return to racing before the end of the year, write BBC Online.
The Pole suffered multiple fractures to his arm and leg and a partially severed right hand following a crash in Sunday’s Ronde di Andora rally.
Kubica, 26, is expected to miss the whole of the 2011 Formula 1 season.
But he told Gazzetta dello Sport: “I want to return this year. I am really determined.”
