It's Catch 'The Flash': Champ Tundo Inches Ahead, Uhuru Flags Off Safari Rally
5th July 2019
Kenyan titleholder and five-time winner opens slim 03.6 second lead over Zambian Gomes as WRC Candidate Event gets off to fireworks in Nairobi
- It marked a rip-roaring start to the fourth round of the 2019 Africa Rally Championship (ARC) where Kenya pulled all stops as the country seeks to convince motor sport governing body, the FIA that it is ready to take her place back in the elite WRC circuit starting next year
- Organisers ran a twin track ostensibly to offer spectators scintillating neck to neck action where two drivers went off in a go and they were not let down, with 48 starting the event that is under close scrutiny by top FIA officials and marshals who will then rule whether Kenya can return to the WRC for a period of three years from 2020 to 22
- President Uhuru who flagged off the first 10 cars and was among the thousands of spectators who graced the Super Special Stage where organisers forced to shorten Day 1 of the event after the 13Km Gatamaiyo Forest Stage (CS2) in Kiambu was cancelled due to adverse weather
NAIROBI, Kenya- Titleholder Carl 'Flash' Tundo laid an early marker to challengers to his crown when he established a slim 03.6 second lead over Zambian Leroy Gomes after the opening Super Special Stage in Kasarani as the 2019 World Rally Championship (WRC) Candidate Event Safari Rally zoomed off to great fanfare in Nairobi on Friday.
It marked a rip-roaring start to the fourth round of the 2019 Africa Rally Championship (ARC) where Kenya pulled all stops as the country seeks to convince motor sport governing body, the FIA that it is ready to take her place back in the elite WRC circuit starting next year.
Organisers were however, compelled to cancel the second stage planned for the day in the neighbouring Kiambu County due to bad weather.
To underline the seriousness, the event was flagged off by none other than the Head of State, Uhuru Kenyatta, outside the VIP Pavilion of the MISC Kasarani, Stadium for the first time in the history of the prestigious event that was part of the WRC until October 2002.
Following the ceremonial start, five-time Safari champion Tundo who is bidding for a sixth crown in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X-R4 and navigated by Tim Jessop, clocked 03.56.0 minutes before an enthusiastic crowd of over 5000 spectators who turned out for the hair-raising thrills on a ‘fast and furious’ Special Spectator Stage twin track.
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The 'Flash' who is a local rally titan did not disappoint, thrilling spectators with some jaw-dropping driving skills around the opening 4.8km stage that at the end of it all, established him as the man to chase on Saturday and Sunday.
Compatriot and reigning ARC champion Manvir Baryan and his British partner Drew Sturrock had to contend with playing second fiddle to Tundo but it is still too early in the grueling competition to rule him out of contention in his mission to retain his continental crown by bagging victory in Kenya's most famous rally.
Baryan who is also the ARC leader settled for fifth, 04.3 seconds behind Tundo.
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Tundo’s teammate Onkar Rai was third fastest, losing out to Gomes by just a millisecond, meaning only 4.3 seconds separates the leading four drivers heading into Saturday as the Zambian sandwiched the Kenyan favourites on the summit of the overnight leaderboard.
Positive start
The 2013 ARC Jassy Singh made a positive start to his third Safari with fourth place on day one. The son of legendary Muna Singh is however, yet to finish the punishing Safari on his two previous attempts with the Zambian speed merchant completing the stage in 04.00.1 that was only three milliseconds better than the mark posted by current ARC holder Manvir.
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Owing to its status as a WRC Candidate Event as well as ARC round, the 2019 Safari has attracted rally enthusiasts and petrol heads from far afield as Ndola and Lusaka in Zambia, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania and Kampala, Uganda and it was a sight to behold when they cheered on their heroes.
Organisers ran a twin track ostensibly to offer spectators scintillating neck to neck action where two drivers went off in a go and they were not let down, with 48 starting the event that is under close scrutiny by top FIA officials and marshals who will then rule whether Kenya can return to the WRC for a period of three years from 2020 to 22.
President Uhuru who flagged off the first 10 cars and was among the thousands of spectators who graced the Super Special Stage where organisers forced to shorten Day 1 of the event after the 13Km Gatamaiyo Forest Stage (CS2) in Kiambu was cancelled due to adverse weather.
Safety of the competitors and spectators is paramount for the 2019 Safari in the quest to convince the FIA to give the green light to a WRC return.
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Following the cancellation of Gatamaiyo, the speed monsters proceeded to an overnight stay (Parc Ferme) at Naivasha’s Sopa Lodge via the Nairobi-Naivasha Highway where motorists got a chance to view the special cars up close much to their delight.
Prior to the Parc Ferme, there was regroup and service to help competitors repair the cars ahead of Day 2 that will start with the Leg 1B at Sopa on Saturday morning at 7am local time (+3GMT).
Competitors will repeat three stages around Elementaita (21.20km), Sleeping Warrior (27.08km) and Soysambu (22.00km) which will also be the designated Spectator Stage.
IT'S OKAY: This Tanzanian 2019 Safari Rally WRC Candidate Event competitor got into the fun of things when he emblazoned his car with the hilarious message that caused ripples of mirth during Day 1 of the event in Nairobi on July 5, 2019. PHOTO/Duncan Sirma/SPN
Dozens of Safari fans have already made the trip to Soysambu to savour the action.
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Safari Rally Leg 1A –Top 26 Results
1.Carl Tundo /Tim Jessop – (Ken- Evo X ) 03.56.0minutes
2.Leroy Gomes /Gomes Urshlla – (Zam- Ford Fiesta R5) 03.59.6
3. Onkar Rai/ Dawe Gareth – (Ken -Scoda Fabia R5) 03.59.7
4.Jassy Singh/Sahid Khan –(Subaru Impreza) 04.00.1
5.Manvir Bayan /Drew Sturrock – (Ken-UK-Skoda Fabia R5) 04.00.3
6.Tejveer Rai/Gavin Laurence-- (Ken- Evo X) 04.01.9
7.Ian Duncan /Anthony Nielsen –(Ken -Evo X) 04.03.0
8.Giancarlo Davite/ Sylvia Vindevogel- (Bur Bel/Bur Evo X R4) 04.09.0
9.Ronald Ssebaguzi/Leon Ssenyange (-Ug- Evo X) 04.09.4
10.Baldev Chager / Ravi Soni – (Ken - Evo X-R4) 04.09.8
11.Eric Bengi- Ken- Tuta Mionki – (Ken - Evo X) 04.12.1
12. Izhar Mirza/Kavit Dave – ( Ken Mitsubishi Evo 10) 04.12.9
13.Jasmeet Chana - Ken Ravi Chana – (Ken Evo X) 04.13.3
14.Yassin Nasser Ali Katumba – (UG Subaru Impreza) 04.13.5
15. Ammar Haq- Ken Victor Okundi- (Ken -Evo X) 04.15.7
16.Duncan Mubiru/Musa Nsubuga – (UG Evo X) 04.17.8
17.Paras Pandya/Falgun Bhojak - (Ken Evo X) 04.20.8
18. Karan Patel /James Mwangi – (Ken- Evo X) 04.21.4
19.Mahesh Halai/ Ketan Halai – (Ken- Subaru Impreza) 04.26.3
20. Kepher Walubi/ Anthony Mugambwa (UG- Evo X) 04.27.6
21.Christakis Fitidis/Veer Dadar – (UG/TZ- Evo X) 04.31.7
22.Hussein Malik/Linet Ayuko –(Ken EvoX) 04.39.6
23.Issa Amwari/ Job Njiru –(Ken -Evo X-R4) 04.44.9
24.Minesh Rathod/Shameer Yusuf- (Ken -Evo X) 04.50.2
25.Aakif Virani /Azhar Bhatti –(Ken- Subaru Impreza) 04.52.3
26. Moez Malik – Ken- Steven Njenga – Ken- Subaru Impreza) 05.19.6