Equator Rally revs off

Africa Rally Championship's (ARC) Equator Rally revved off on Saturday, 24 April, morning with 32 crews set to tackle the six stages 

The event, flagged off by Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed on Friday has attracted 19 ARC crews. The 19 raced through a 5.40km qualifying Loldia stage on Friday from where Onkar Rai, in a VW Polo, set the fastest time of 4 mins and 15.2 seconds. 

Karen Patel was 4 seconds slower with Carl Tundo setting the third fastest time in the qualifying stage. The ARC crews were, however, given the free hand to choose their starting positions with priority given to the qualifying stage leaders. 

This morning, Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title holder Baldev Chager, navigated by Ravi Soni in a Mitsubishi Evolution 10 was first off the ramp followed by Eric Bengi alongside his navigator Peter Mutuma in a similar car. 

Uganda's Duncan Mubiru was third on the route followed by the all Zambian crew of Guy Botterill and Simon Vacy-lyle.  Rai, who won the shakedown chose to start in eighth position while Patel and Tundo were fifth and seventh respectively.

The first run is the 14.67km Elementeita stage which is using tracks from Safari Rally expansive Soysambu Conservancy. Drivers will then tackle a 20.33km stage with the final stage, Sleeping Warrior being the longest at 30.98km. The stages will be run twice. 

While flagging off the Rally which is a dry-run for the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally, CS Mohamed says all is ready and the organizers had done a commendable job. 

"We are leaving nothing to chance to make sure Safari lives up to its reputation as a world-class event. Safari has always been at the heart of Kenyans as part of our heritage and can’t be removed from our legacy.”

“We need to ensure all is well in this ARC event because the world is now watching. The organizers have done well and i am convinced will reflect well on us going into the WRC event in June.” she said.