Blow for title-chasing Tundo as Appeals Board nullifies Nanyuki results

Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title race has taken an interesting turn as the recently constituted Appeals Board has disqualified three crews from the Nanyuki Rally for breach of competition rules. 

The Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) National Appeals Board convened at KMSF offices on Tuesday 23 November to deliberate on the matter where an appeal challenged the crews of Carl Tundo, Baldev Charger and Jasmeet Chana. 

"Appeal Board confirmed the crews of Carl Tundo / Tim Jessop had breached article 11.13 of the National Competition Rules. The crews of Car No. 9 of Jasmeet Chana / Ravi Chana had breached articles 12.1.1 (a) and (c) of the 2021 FIA International Sporting Code. The Crews of Car No. 1 of Baldev Chagar / Ravi Soni had breached article 11.11(b) of the National Competition Rules.

The Appeals Board Decided to disqualify Crews of Car No. 1 of Baldev Chagar / Ravi Soni, Car No. 3 of Carl Tundo / Tim Jessop and Car No. 9 of Jasmeet Chana / Ravi Chana from the results of KCB Nanyuki Rally KNRC 7/2021," read part of the board's decision on the matter. 

Further, the board confirmed that the Crew of Arrow Racing of Car No. 23 of Aakif Virani and Azhar Bhatti too had breached Section C Appendix 1.1.4 of the National Competition Rules. "The Appeals Board decided to issue a warning to the Competitor Arrow Racing of Aakif Virani and Azhar Bhatti Car No. 23 and a fine of Ksh150,000 being applied with suspension of sentence, subject to no further breach of a similar nature for the period to December 2022." the Board's decision further read.

Tundo, navigated by Jessop in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X, racked up the Nanyuki Rally Group (NRG) round despite a 5 minutes penalty he incurred for outside assistance. The crew had come flat-out into the flying finish but their Evo stalled just as he had pulled into CS6 Greystone 2 TC End.

The 5 minutes penalty was applied by the stewards when he was pushed by Jammeet from the back until the car started motoring again through to the last service.

Virani in an ex-Manvir Baryan Skoda Fabia R5 romped home in a career best second. Ugandan Amaanraj Rai, navigated by Kisumu’s Gurdeep Panesar completed the podium dash in a career best KNRC third place.

It was a bitter pill to swallow for longtime leader Chager who also incurred a massive 20 minutes penalty for going off the route course.

Chager led the pack after the early morning 77km three stage first loop, but picked up a puncture in the second loop to dip to second behind Tundo before the penalty was added to his cumulative time.

Chager had nevertheless picked 5 bonus points for winning the power stage which was the repeat run of the Greystone stage.

Jasmeet suffered turbo gremlins in the last stage to settle for fourth place ahead of FIA Rally Star driver McRae Kimathi.

The decision come barely three days after competitors Peiro Canobbio, Aakif Virani and Steve Mwangi were disqualified for going off the route in Thika. Both Piero and Aakif were fined Ksh. 20,000 for twice deviating from the route course. 

Mwangi, on the other hand, was also fined Ksh. 20,000 and a further 10,000 for failing to honor the summons of the stewards. The trio were found to be in breach of Article 11.11B of the KMSF National Competition Rules (NCRs).