The Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) is gearing up for one of its most gruelling events on October 8, as drivers take on the challenging gravel roads of Il-Bisil in the seventh round of the 2023 season.
The event, known as the “KMSC Kajiado Rally,” is renowned for its demanding terrain that pushes KNRC drivers and their cars to the limits, and this year, it returns to the same route as the previous edition.
Leading the championship by a substantial 84-point margin is Jasmeet Chana, affectionately known as the ‘Iceman,’ who secured a crucial podium finish in Mombasa last month. Chana is looking to replicate his success in Bisil, acknowledging that it is perhaps one of the toughest events in the nine-leg KNRC series.
He will face stiff competition from young talents McRae Kimathi and Jeremiah Wahome, both driving Ford Fiesta Rally 3 cars. Jeremiah Wahome is considered one of the favourites, having claimed victory in two rounds in Machakos and Mombasa. Similar to Wahome, Jasmeet Chana has two wins to his name, achieved in Eldoret and Nakuru.
However, Bisil holds special significance for Iceman, as a fifth-place finish in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X would be enough to secure the championship title. Bisil proved to be a successful hunting ground for Chana last year when he secured a much-needed podium finish.
The Clerk of the Course, John Kamau, has highlighted the event’s first stage as the most challenging. This initial stage, known as Il-Bisil 1, covers a distance of 60.43km and concludes at a quarry. The second stage, Marble 1 (20.29km), will also serve as the Power Stage, known as Marble 2 (20.29km). Kamau pointed out that the recent deterioration of the road could make it quite rough for the competing crews.
Additionally, he mentioned that the Rally HQ and Service Park would be located in Kumpa, with a designated spectator zone that allows safe access to view the rally action. While encouraging spectators to attend and enjoy the rally, Kamau emphasized the importance of following marshal instructions for their safety.
Furthermore, the KNRC event will include a Clubman Rally category, intended to attract more participants with a shorter event covering 50 per cent of the entire route. The Clubman Rally is open to all drivers and vehicles, except those in the RC2 and B13 classes.
This addition is expected to bring an interesting mix of entries to the KNRC. The KNRC category will feature 161 km of competitive driving and a liaison distance of 55km, resulting in a total rally distance of 216 km.
The rally will start and finish at Kumpa on October 8, with scrutineering and documentation taking place at the KMSC Club House in South ‘C’ on October 7.
Classic cars will be allowed to enter the 2WD class but cannot score points in both classes, as clarified by Kamau. Current KNRC Standings after Mombasa: Jasmeet Chana – 171 points Jeremiah Wahome – 87 McRae Kimathi – 79 Kush Patel – 66 Nikhil Sachania – 44 Izhar Mirza – 44.
