Charger leads Kabras Racing to KCB Nakuru Rally sweep

Baldev Singh Chager emerged the winner in the season-opening KCB Nakuru Rally following a stellar drive at Soysambu Conservancy on Saturday 20 February.

The Flying Singh led his Kabras Sugar Racing stablemates Tejveer and Onkar to their unprecedented 1-2-3 finish.

 "It's the first time in 10 years that we have racked up a clean sweep as a team. We are really proud of it, I mean, it's quite a good feeling. We are looking forward to improving on our performance in the next event in Machakos County," he said.

Driving a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 and navigated by Ravi Soni Chager, he also gained 3 bonus Championship points by winning the power stage which was a repeat run of the Soysambu (CS7). He clicked 1;29.36 hours to beat Tejveer by a 1.38 minutes margin.

In winning the Rift Valley Motor Sport Club (RVMSC) round, Chager completed back-to-back Nakuru titles after his victory in Nyahururu last year. Nyahururu Rally was the last event before Covid-19 restrictions saw the season canceled.

Chager won 5 out of 7 stages to take an early lead on the KCB Kenya National Rally Championship KNRC) log.

The technical route saw several drivers fail to finish the season opener. Carl Tundo who didn't win a stage in the eight-section event exited with a broken left rear arm. Isaa Amwari of Keihin Racing also retired with a broken lower arm, Piero Canobbiui from Kilifi suffered power steering gremlins while Aakif Virani suffered fuel pump problems. 

Other casualties were Daren Miranda, Ghalib Haji from Eldoret, Ugandan rising star Hussein Malik who had to contend with punctures which saw him time-barred in the long run.

After CS6, competitors started the last stage - CS7 -which also served as the Power stage where the fastest competitor gained an additional 3 championship points.

Rai siblings Tejveer and Onkar Rai in identical VW Polo R5 sealed the podium dash. 

The result was a repeat of the Nyahururu Rally where both Chager and Tejveer occupied the first two positions. Second overall is still Tejveers career-best as he is yet to win a KNRC event.