The final round of the Kenya National Rally Championship in Rift Valley has been postponed indefinitely due to current heavy rains in the area.
The Kenya Motorsport Foundation (KMF) cites “interest of safety and unavoidable circumstances” for the postponement.
“Due to the heavy rains witnessed on and around the Rally Route, the Organizer of the KCB Guru Nanak Rally 2019 has no option but to declare a Force Majuere on the basis of Competitor Safety and therefore postpones the running of the Rally to a later date as to be allocated by the Motorsport Council,” KMSF bulletin, seen by Ducor Sports reads.
“Road conditions witnessed at 11am today (Friday) are not conducive to the safe running of all the Special Stages. Safety and Medical Intervention vehicles will not be able to traverse the stages due the extremely wet and muddy conditions thus compromising the Events Safety and Medical.’’
Ducor Sports has learnt that access roads leading to Soysambu Conservancy are also impassable and there are many seasonal rivers which pose a great danger to the drivers.
The heavy rains, especially around Nakuru and Naivasha, have prevented the organisers from setting up the rally’s route.
The change of the date will no doubt favour the top three top cars that were preparing for the rally as they will have more time to study the route.
Reigning African champion Manvir Baryan, series champion Carl “Flash” Tundo and leader Baldev Chager were one of the top drivers that were set to participate in the rally.
Carl “Flash” Tundo entered a Triumph classic car ostensibly to test-drive for the forthcoming Rift Valley Classic 1000 rally though rumors doing rounds in rallying circles indicate that the multiple Kenya and Safari champion might resort to his Rally Raid Milner R4 ‘monster’.
Former KNRC multiple champion Baldev Singh Chager will be hoping to make amends when the new date is announced after a rather excruciating run on his very first year on the R4 Mitsubishi Evo 10.
Uganda’s three-time former champion Ronald Sebuguzi who is navigated by compatriot Leon Senyange in a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X is one of the foreign crew that entered the race.
Photo credit: Nation/Anwar Sidi
