This archive report was first published on 15 August 2019.
Onkar Seeded First for KCB Kilifi Rally ¶
Onkar Singh Rai, a Premier Class driver, will be the first to start the KCB Kilifi Rally on Friday, driving a VW Polo R5. This will be his first ride on the super car, which he has already tested locally.
Onkar will be navigated by Gareth Dawe and will be among the star attractions in Kilifi. The rally, which is the eighth leg of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC), will begin with a 21.31km special stage on Friday night in the dark.
Seeded second is Baldev Chager, who will be driving a Mitsubishi Evolution 10-R4. Chager has reiterated that R5s will be strong through and through in 2019. He will be going for a rare hat trick behind the wheels of his car.
Other notable drivers include Tejveer Rai, who will be teaming up with Gavin by Laurence in another R4 Mitsubishi Evolution 10, and Manvir Baryan, who will be flagged off in the fourth slot alongside his British co-driver Drew Sturrock.
Manvir will be piloting a Skoda Fabia R5 model, which has swept the ground with all its race adversaries across the African continent over the past three seasons. However, Onkar's Skoda won the season-opening Nakuru Rally, while Manvir's Skoda is yet to register a win this season.
Chager was all smiles ahead of Kilifi Rally and said, “I’m approaching Kilifi with lots of respect despite all the confidence generated from my back to back wins. The strategy is like every other KNRC; really nothing different at all. We go out to do the best we possibly can. But it’s a fact that the R5s will be better through and through and there’s no comparison with Evos.”
The KCB Kilifi Rally will continue with another 8 competitive stages on Saturday. This rally is the only round of the 2019 Kenya National Rally Championship at sea level.
PROVISIONAL START LIST
- Onkar Rai/Gareth Dawe (VW Polo R5)
- Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
- Tejveer Rai/Gavin Lawrence (Mitsubishi Evolution 10)
- Manvir Baryan/Drew Sturrock (Skoda Fabia)
- ...
