BY SAMSON ATEKA
Gurraj Singh registered his maiden win in the sixth round of Kenya Motor Sports Club-organised national Autocross Championship at East Africa Portland Cement racetrack in Athi River on Sunday.
Raaji Bharij, who is using his all-round skills to raise money for the wilderness, won the 2WD Turbo buggy class while Tejas Hirani claimed his fourth win of the season. Bharij, who competed in Pinal Patel’s buggy, was happy to be back on a rear wheel machine for the first time since his early days of Alfa Romeo in 2WD.
“It was a very successful weekend all round. Much to my surprise, we won the hotly contested 2WD Turbo Buggy class, given that I only got into the buggy yesterday (Sunday),” said Raaji.
After the most amazing month of experiences in Europe, defending 2WD non-turbo defending champion Tejas won his fourth race of the season and set the event’s overall Fastest Time of the Day (FTD) in a magnificent heat 2 run that he cleared in 1.53.70 minutes. Tejas is fresh from finishing second overall in the British National Rally-Cross Championship.
“It’s a great day of racing. I won the 2WD non-turbo class and fastest vehicle overall by 24 seconds. It was a great track—very fast— very slippery and tricky. Thanks to sponsors Team Magic,” said Tejas who now proceeds to Rally Raid action in Nanyuki this weekend. “I’m really looking forward to it and getting together with new navigator Gavin Laurence,” added Tejas.
Ryan Bailey won a competitive Bambino class showdown but bore the full brunt of Jadini Nzomo whose spirited run was hindered with time penalties.
Jadini set the quickest time in the early morning practice heat and beat Ryan by 1 second in the first heat. Jadini, who also drives in the RVM&SC Karting, set the quickest time in Heat 2 but then dropped to third fastest after a 4 seconds penalty was imposed for hitting a tape. Ryan had two fastest heat runs in heat 2 and 4 while Sean Smith set the quickest time in heat 3. Another fastest time in heat 3 by Jadini was hit by a further 2 seconds penalty.
“The track was really challenging. We had a good fight with Ryan but misfortunes took toll on my driving. I hope to win the next round of the series,” said Nzomo, who is brother to karting star Amani Nzomo.
Ryan admitted he was nervous at some point. “I was thinking my bambino would stop at some point,” said Ryan who posted his fourth win of the season to consolidate his lead in Bambino Class. Round 3 winner Rio Smith finished the Bambino class second but candidly admitted it hadn’t been a good day position-wise.
Courtesy of the-star.co.ke