Roaring Motor Sport Season Ahead

The 2014 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) starts on a sad gear following the demise of one of the true indigenous rally heroes, Ben Muchemi, better known as ‘Baba Shiro.’

It also comes after the year that saw the exit of another great, three -time Safari Rally winner, Joginder Singh, who passed away in October aged 81.

Singh also known as ‘Flying Sikh’ was Kenya’s most successful rally driver, winning the African marathon twice when it was a round of the World Rally Championship.

He started 22 Safaris, finished 19 and won three.

As for ‘Baba Shiro’ much as he did not scale the heights of victory or clock fastest times in his rallying career, he managed to arouse excitement to his legions of fans and fellow drivers.

He brought a fresh twist to the sport, if it was not taking part in a rally; he would be sponsoring someone to compete instead.

If he was not chairing a committee, he was lending out one of many rally cars to someone and it is this kindred spirit that will be solely missed in 2014.

The 2009 Kenya Motor Sports Personality of the Year owned 28 rally cars and allowed less privileged drivers use them free of charge besides playing a leading role in organising events among them, last year’s Safari.

Celebrating the rich lives of Muchemi and Singh will form a large part of the itinerary of events this year.

The calendar will begin at the annual KMSF Motor Sports Awards later this month to award those who excelled in 2013 where moving tributes to the departed greats will form a large part of the proceedings.

Last year, Shivam ‘Ole’ Vinayak picked up the Personality of the Year award as Chantal Young was elated at her Ladies Rose Bowl trophy and classic car cup navigators’ titles.

2014 outlook:

Already, KMSF have altered the KNRC calendar with the start of the eight-round KCB sponsored competition being switched to the coastal town of Malindi on the weekend of February 1 and 2 as opposed to the customary Kajiado/Nairobi region openers.

Kenya Motor Sports Club will organize the next rally after Malindi in early March.

Another surprise change is the moving of the Safari Rally from its traditional July slot to September.

The world famous event will be held on the weekend of September 12-14 and will still count towards the seventh and penultimate round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) series which revs off with Rallye Bandama of Cote D’Ivoire between March 1 and 2.

Other countries in which the ARC will crisscross are Tanzania, Zambia, South Africa (Sasol Rally), Rwanda (Mountain Gorilla Rally) and Madagascar Rally which folds the curtains to the eight-leg ARC series.

Jassy Singh is the man to beat this year after claiming the ARC crown last season becoming the youngest driver to win the title.

The 20-year-old scooped the title after finishing sixth overall at the final round of the continental championship held in Madagascar last weekend.

Navigated by veteran Dave Sihoka, Jassy outraced his Ugandan counterpart Jas Mangat who crashed out of the race.

His father Muna, grandfather Satwant and 2012 champion Mohammed Essa have all bagged the ARC crown for Zimbabwe.

KNRC Preparations:

Drivers are busy preparing their cars ahead of another gruelling eight rounds as the number of top-of-the-range cars continues to grow on the local circuit.

Manvir Baryan, a KNRC Division 2 driver, has been linked to a Proton S2000 vehicle, but has been coy about it.

Baryan, who finished in the top 10 during the KQ Safari Classic Rally, says he will stick to the same N16 vehicle he used in 2013.

Super 2000, also known as S2000, is an FIA specification and classification for production-based race cars. The specification is split to cover both rally and touring car racing.

Super 2000 rally cars are also permitted to compete in Super 2000 World Rally Championship events.

Other new cars expected in the new season include an EVOX by Athman brothers Khalfan and Abdulaziz, and an EVO9 by Asad Anwar.

Eric Bengi has acquired a Two Wheel Drive RunX while former KNRC Division Two Driver Charles Hinga is said to be plotting a 2WD comeback in a Toyota Corolla RSI.

Auto and Moto cross:

The Kenya National Autocross Championship begins on the weekend of March 8 and 9 whilst the National Motocross series commences on January 25 and 26.

Both Motocross and Autocross events will feature nine events apiece.

RVM&SC will organize the first round of the scheduled five Rally Raid events on March 15 and 16.

The CBA Africa Concours D’Elegance 2014, organized by Alfa Romeo Owners Club, will be held at Nairobi Racecourse on September 27 and 28.

On the weekend of August 30-31 Zambia will host the FIM Africa Continental Motocross Championship.

This will feature riders from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, hosts Zambia, South Africa, Bostwana and Namibia among other nations.

2014 CALENDERS:

KNRC

Jan 18-19::KNRC 1 Nakuru Rally (RVM&C)

Feb 15-16::KNRC. 2 KMSC Rally (KMSC)

March 29-30 KNRC 3 RSC Rally (RSC)

April 26-27::KNRC 4 Mombasa Rally (MMC)

June 28-29::KNRC 5 (NRG*/WMSC*)

September 12-14::ARC 7 KCB Safari Rally (KMSF)

October 18-19::KNRC. 7 Kisumu Rally

November 22-23::KNRC. 8 Guru Nanak Rally (SUC)

FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP March 1-2::ARC 1-Rallye Bandama Cote D’Ivoire

April 12-13::ARC 2-Sasol Rally South Africa

May 10-11::ARC 3-Zambia International Rally

June 14-15::ARC 4- Rally of Tanzania

July 19-20::ARC 5-Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally

August 16-17::ARC 6- Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally

September 12-14::ARC 7-KCB Safari Rally

Nov 8-9::ARC 8-Total Rally International Madagascar

AUTOCROSS:

February 1-2::AUTOX 1 (RSC)

March 8-9::AUTOX 2 (KMSC)

April 19-20::AUTOX 3 (RVM&SC/EAMSC)

May 24-25::AUTOX 4 (KMSC)

July 19-20::AUTOX 5 (KMSC)

August 9-10::AUTOX 6 (KMSC)

September 20-21::AUTOX 7 (EMC)

November 1-2::AUTOX 8 (KMSC)

November 29-30::AUTOX 9 (KMSC)

MOTOCROSS:

January 25-26::MOTOX 1 (EAMSC)

February 22-23::MOTOX 2 (EAMSC)

April 19-20::MOTOX 3 (EAMSC)

May 10-11::MOTOX 4 (EAMSC)

June 21-22::MOTOX 5 (EAMSC)

August 2-3::MOTOX 6 (EAMSC)

October 4-5::MOTOX 7 (EAMSC)

November 8-9::MOTOX 8 (EAMSC)

December 7-8::MOTOX 9 (EAMSC)

RALLY RAID 2014 CALENDER AS AT 13.11.2013

March 15-16::RALLY RAID 1 (RVM&SC)

April 5-6::RALLY RAID 2 (RSC)

July 12-13::RALLY RAID 3 (RVM&SC)

October 11-12::RALLY RAID 4 (NRG)

November 15-16::RALLY RAID 5 (RSC)

ENDURO:

February 8-9::ENDURO 1 (EAMSC)

April 12-13::ENDURO 2 (EAMSC)

June 14-15::ENDURO 3 (EAMSC)

August 23-24:ENDURO 4 (RVM&SC)

October 25-26::ENDURO 5 (EAMSC)

OTHERS

September 27-28::CBA Africa Concours D’Elegance (Nairobi Racecourse)

July 21-22::Economy Run (AROC)

August 30-31::FIM Africa Motox Championship (Zambia).

 

Source: CAPITAL FM KENYA