ERICK OCHIENG’
Imran Khan is set to join his brother Farhaaz Khan in the driving seat when the 35th KCB Guru Nanak Rally gets underway in Naivasha on November 23.
Imran, who won a rally with Azar Anwar as a navigator, will be making his debut as a driver in an ALS branded Subaru. Farhaaz who is a former Classic Car Cup navigator champion has been competing for the past few years as a navigator.
“It is quite exciting that we will be fighting against each other and this promises some fun,” said Farhaaz.
Imran will be navigated by his father Arshad Khan in a Subaru GC8. The GC8 is a standard machine that has been used as a recce car.
Meanwhile, 20 year old Zane Young will be making his national rallying debut on the forthcoming KCB Guru Nanak Rally when he joins former co-driver turned driver Geoff Mayes in a Toyota Levin.
Young, the youngest ever podium finisher aboard a quad-bike in rally raids, will be targeting a strong finish in the Naivasha rally.
Young, who has been training for his full rallying debut, recently took the opportunity to co-drive Gurvir Bhabra in a rally raid event in preparation for the challenges he will face during the rally.
“I’ve been looking forward to this for a long time now. I really enjoy racing my quad but to sit in a proper car and call notes is something totally different. My sister, Chantal, finished on the podium on her rallying debut and it will be nice to continue the family tradition,” said Young.
The Guru Nanak Rally will mark only the second time Mayes has driven in Kenya. He made his debut on the recent KCB Safari Rally and was second in class when the propeller shaft failed, forcing his retirement. Since the,n the Chloride Exide, H2Pro Hydrate, USN and Formula SR supported car has undergone an extensive rebuild.
“To say I’m excited is an understatement. I saw a little bit of the potential of the car during the Safari and my team have done an incredible amount of work to get it ready for the Guru Nanak. Although I’m interested in comparing times, a finish is far more important than chasing the leaders, we’ll leave that for next year….,” explained Mayes.
The team will once again be promoting the “Hands off our Elephants” campaign. This campaign been raising awareness of the poaching problem that is currently decimating elephants and rhinos at an alarming rate and the pressure is on the government to step up its fight against poaching.
The Guru Nanak Rally, which is the final round of the 2014 KCB Kenya National Rally Championship, takes place around Naivasha. A total of eight stages make up the 347-kilometre route. The ceremonial start and podium finish will take place at the new Buffalo Mall in Naivasha on Sunday 23 November.
Courtesy of standardmedia.co.ke