Leader Jasmeet Chana, also known as Iceman, aims to conclude the 2023 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) on a high note at the upcoming seventh round in Il-Bisil, Kajiado County.
To secure the coveted title during the Kenya Motor Sport Club (KMSC) round on October 7-8, all Chana needs is a fifth-place finish, which would earn him at least 17 points and make his lead insurmountable with two events left.
Iceman narrowly missed out on the KNRC title to Karan Patel in the final race last year, despite leading for most of the season. While he has won various lower-tier championships, including Division Three, Division One, Two Wheel Drive (2WD), Group S, and Group N, the prestigious KNRC overall title remains his goal. He’s determined to achieve it with his trusted Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X in Il-Bisil.
Chana has vivid memories of his first career podium in 2014 during the Machakos Rally, where he teamed up with his elder brother Ravinder Chana. He believes that the technical nature of the Bisil stages will make the KMSC Rally exciting, and he’s eager to secure the title to fulfil his wish.
As of now, Chana leads the championship with 171 points, holding an 84-point advantage over Jeremiah Wahome, who is in second place after six rounds.
Chana and Wahome have both secured two wins, while Carl Tundo and Patel have one each. If Chana finishes fifth in the upcoming leg, he will reach 188 points, a total neither Wahome nor third-placed McRae Kimathi can surpass.
Chana has already met the 50 per cent threshold for championship eligibility, and he anticipates major celebrations next month if all goes according to plan. After many years with the Evolution X, this could be the pinnacle of Iceman’s illustrious motorsport career.
The event in Bisil is scheduled for scrutineering at KMSC Clubhouse in South C on October 7, followed by racing action on October 8.
The route in Bisil remains similar to the previous year. After Bisil, drivers will face the iconic Guru Nanak Rally in Kiambu on November 4-5 and the new Kenya Racing Team round on December 2-3 at Stoni Athi.
KNRC STANDINGS
Jasmeet Chana – 171
Jeremiah Wahome – 87
McRae Kimathi – 79
Kush Patel – 66
Nikhil Sachania – 44
Izhar Mirza – 44
Carl Tundo – 39
Karan Patel – 34
Amman Shah – 33
Hamza Anwar – 26.
