BY SAMSON ATEKA
Kenya rallying hot lad targets Class ‘S’ and Div Three titles
Caution could be the key to success for Kenya National Rally Champioinbship Division Three and “S” Class leader Karan Patel as he bids to clinch his maiden titles at the 35th KCB Guru Nanak Rally next month.
This will only be his sixth outing since making his debut in the Kiambu Rally.
The 23year old Nairobi based driver won the last two rounds of the “S” Class category with credible top 10 positions.
In Kisumu he did this in the absence of Naivasha based Alasdair Keith who also retired on the 62nd Safari Rally. Karan is the only driver currently leading two classes.
He leads Group “S” and Division 3 and hopes to be a champion on his very first year of competition.
He started riding bikes at the Jamhuri Park racetrack and won the AMU East Africa MX85 title.
Asked how he plots to approach the Guru Nanak, Karan said: “My approach will be to drive exactly as fast as I need to in order to take the two championship wins but be cautious as well.”
Karan will however, monitor how Keith and Ronak Shah react to his driving style and strategy in the “S” Class and Division 3 respectively.
Karan is one of the most improved drivers this season. He has astounded fiends and rivals with the manner in which he has pushed a non-homologated Subaru GC8 to vanquish state-of-the-art Subaru N-series cars and Evolution Mitsubishis.
“My plan is always to win but it will also be vital that we score as many points and stage victories as possible to give ourselves the best shot at the title,” insists Karan who is already ruffling features with his ex-Baldev Chager GC8.
Although no one knows what’s up Keith’s sleeves, that will be known during the season closing rally organised by Sikh Union.
“Fifth overall in Kisumu Rally? I would like to thank my parents and friends for their support, also not to forget the hard word that was put into the preparation of the car by my chief engineer and the service crew for their performance during the event. Overall God is to thank for keeping us safe while I was busy driving like a mad man. And last but not least. My co-driver Tauseef (Khan) who is priceless to me. Thank you to all my supporters,” Karan said.
S CLASS
1. Karan Patel 390
2. Alasdair Keith 360
3. Hussein Malik 205
4. Eric Njogu 170
5. Chandrakhant Devji Chhabhadia “Chandu” 138
6. James Kirimi 120
DIVISION 2
1. Alasdair Keith 335
2. Mahesh Halai 330
3. Tejveer Rai 260
4. Raaji Bharij 133
5. Ghalib Hajee 125
6. Anwar Pandya 100
DIV 3
1. Karan Patel 380
2. Ronak Shah 310
3. Steve Mwangi 245
4. Jonathan Somen 173
5. Steve Gacheru 158
6. Hussein Malik 155
7. Aslam Khan 145
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke