Bambino Stars Yuvraj, Karamveer Go Head To Head For KCB Autocross 5 Points

Bambino Class joint leaders Yuvraj Rajput and Karamveer Singh Rooprai shall renew fierce rivalry in the fourth round of the KCB Kenya National Autocross Championship that is penciled for Mombasa Cement racetrack in Vipingo on Sunday.

What makes the combat all too interesting is that the budding drivers have savored fluctuating fortunes between them and are tied at 78 points.

Looking at the impending race in hindsight, there has been enthusiasm of dizzying heights as the youthful drivers take their warfare at sea level.

Both lads have won two races each going into fifth round of action and it will be interesting to observe who among them shall make it three wins at halfway stage.

During the first round at the Waterfront, Yuvraj was in imperious form and deservedly won it before Rooprai picked himself up in the second round at WRC track in Kasarani a month later when he vanquished all.

Then in March in Eldoret, Yuvraj summoned his willpower and confidence to register a win with Rooprai settling for the second slot.

The see-saw battle took center stage again at Jamhuri Park track when Rooprai emerged triumphant to consign Yuvraj to the second position.

Rooprai was all smiles while describing the season as having gone according to his expectations.

“Honestly, it has been so far so good. The rigors of the event were there but I was overly determined to do well and this is exactly what I have been doing,” said Rooprai.

He further expounded that the fight against Yuvraj has been intense and that he was looking forward to making his maiden appearance in Mombasa.

Yuvraj, on his part, said: "The Mombasa Motor Club  race will be fun, at the same time we will be on holiday and racing- the two things I enjoy most. It will be a fun race fast twisty, yes, I'm looking forward for the race."

In the meantime, there are equally interesting statistics in most of the other groups and particularly the Class 1-2WD Non Turbo category where champion and log leader Zameer Verjee is angling for his fifth win.

 Verjee enjoys a 29-point cushion against second placed Ankush Manoj Shah with 57 points

Qahir Rahim is 33 points behind the leader and will be hoping to haul himself up in the pecking order.

In the Class 1-2WD Non Turbo Car, Rajveer Thethy has already garnered three wins from round two to four while Karangatha was the victor in the Waterfront in February and whatever is up the sleeves of the duo remains to be seen.

Already, Rajveer has put 81 points in the bag while Karangatha has 73 points to his name thus far with Sameer Nanji and Safina Khan lying in the third and fourth positions respectively on 47 and 42.

The 2WD Turbo Buggy leader Azaad Manji will be going for his third win of the season and especially given that he has a 16-point advantage over second placed Pabheet Sagoo.

Shaz Ismail, who is colloquially known as ‘Coach’ in racing circles, is expected to exhibit a never-say-die attitude against the frontrunners despite having raked in 54 points.

In Class 6-4WD Turbo, Lovejyot Singh will be hoping to maintain his lead. His closest challengers are KNRC Premier Class driver Eric Bengi and defending champion Sahib Omar.

Lovejyot faces a test of nerves and skills given that Bengi and Omar are reputed among the fastest drivers in the class.

Sahib Omar hopes to maintain his winning ways after the fourth round at Jamhuri track last month.

Bengi, despite missing the Eldoret round in March, won the Kasarani round.

The notable absentee in the weekend fray will be the Pee-Wee Class leader Kiana Rajput who will be away with family commitments.

The Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) round of the series returns to the seafront racetrack which is located at the expansive Mombasa Cement farm in Kilifi’s Vipingo area.

This year's KCB Autocross series revved-off at The Waterfront Karen courtesy of Sikh Union in January before it headed to WRC Kasarani racetrack for RSC round.

Eldoret hosted the third round in March with Kenya Motor Sports Club (KMSC) catering for the fourth round at Jamhuri Park last month.

KCB KENYA NATIONAL AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 2021 STANDINGS AFTER ROUND 4

 CLASS 1 - 2WD NON TURBO BUGGY

1. Zameer Verjee 86
2. Ankush Manoj Shah 57
3. Qahir Rahim  53
4. Noor Rehman 32
5. Shajad Khan  28
6. Paramveer Malle 26
7. Abdul Razak Rehan 19
8. Gurraj Singh  17
9. Rahul Patel  15
10. Andrew Plesance  14
11. Ahil Khan 12

CLASS 1 - 2WD NON TURBO CAR

1. Rajveer Thethy 81
2. Sam Karangatha 73
3. Sameer Nanji  47
4. Safina Khan  42
5. Ahil Khan 27
6. Azfar AbdulMalik12

CLASS 3 - 2WD TURBO BUGGY

1. Azaad Manji 78
2. Pabhjeet Sagoo 62
3. Shaz Ismail  54
4. Zuber Manji 47
5. Loveyjot Singh 39
6. Kunal Patel Bimal 35
7. Deepal Shah 26
8. Nisha Pandya 23
9. Ian Duncan 15
10. Gurashish Singh 12
11. Kunal Patel Yogesh 11
12. Sunel Hanif11

CLASS 4 - 2WD TURBO CAR

1. Paresh Patel 20

CLASS 5 - 4WD NON TURBO CAR

1. Navdeep Sandhu  20

CLASS 6- 4WD TURBO

1. Loveyjot Singh 72
2. Eric Bengi  50
3. Sahib Omar  54
4. Salim Dodi  24
5. Karan Patel 19
6. Rehan Shah  14
7. Eugene Kariuki13
8. Aakif Virani12
9. Murage Waigwa 26
10. Mcrae Kimathi 11
11. William Karobai 24
12. Junaid Shah10
13. Umair Hussein 9

CLASS 7 - OPEN

1. Kirit Rajput  71
2. Hamza Anwar  66
3. Asad Khan 56
4. Maxine Wahome 51
5. Rehan Shah  22
6. Asad Anwar 22
7. Baldev Chagger 17
8. Anish Chouhan 14
9. Asad Anwar 14

CLASS 8 - QUAD

1. Gurraj Singh 88
2. Wayne Fernandes 68

BAMBINO

1. Yuvraj Rajput  78
2. Karamveer Singh Rooprai 78
3. Jairaj Jutley  17

CLASS 10- JUNIOR 2WD NON TURBO

1. Brandon Ng'anga  66
2. Neel Gohil  54
3. Hanifa Yakub  17
4. Amaraj Malle  15

CLASS 11- PEEWEE

1. Kiana Rajput 80