How KCB Autocross Nurtures Youngsters into KNRC Drivers of the Future

Ever wondered why the Formula 1 and WRC young driver programmes continue to churn out budding motorsport talents across the globe?

Here's why.

WRC speedsters Sebastien Ogier and Ott Tanak wouldn’t be among the  crème de la crème,  of the sport today if they didn’t have the best contraptions.

So the reason they are driving state-of-the-art race cars is because they've exceptional talents to push their machines to unimaginable limits which countless other aspiring drivers can only dream to emulate.

Likewise in Kenya, a myriad drivers use the Autocross series as an avenue to perfect their driving lines prior to joining the big stage.

If you were keeping abreast with proceedings of KCB Autocross 5  at Mombasa Cement last weekend, then you must have noticed a group of young enthusiastic drivers do their thing on the loose, twisty and technical track in Vipingo. Their fast and furious cockpit antics made the Mombasa Motor Club (MMC) organized heat runs a delight to watch and indeed the basis of great hopes for nurturing the greenhorns into KNRC drivers of the future.

"My dad has build a Subaru N10 rally car which we intend to share with him next year for Autocross races. This will enable me upgrade from my current Two Wheel Drive Non Turbo Daewoo car to a 4WD competitor. Perhaps this would be the biggest stride towards my KNRC aspirations. The Autocross Championship has gifted me the platform to realize my potential in the sport. My dad (Charan) who is a former F2 rally champion has also doubled up as my team principal and chief mechanic. Today, I see the Autocross series as a stepping stone to better prospects in the foreseeable future," 2WD NT Car Class leader and runner in Kilifi Rajveer Thethy said.

Neel Gohil, son of retired KNRC driver Sushil Gohil, racked up his maiden win in Kilifi and here is what he had to say: "It was my first time racing in Mombasa and I must admit it was such a great experience. Having done three races in my buggy this season, I was confident sitting in my buggy in Mombasa. I am happy with my maiden victory though it's still early days and a steep leaning curve." 

One of the newest competitors this season is Karanveer Singh Rooprai (10) who came second in Kilifi behind Yuvraj Rajput in Bambino Class. 

At the age of 11, Yuvraj has already scaled the heights of circuit racing alongside his younger sister Kiana Rajput who is the champion in Pee Wee Class.

"I dedicate my win to dad (Kirit Rajput) who couldn't finish the Open Class because his car caught fire. My Championship campaign is shaping up really well,"  Yuvraj said during prize giving. 

Neel Gohil, a Year 8 Hillcrest Preparatory School student started his motorsport career in the Covid year in 2020. In 2021 in Kilifi on his fourth race powered his 1000cc Vitz automatic engine powered buggy (built for him by Robert Gow) to a maiden victory.

Said Gohil: "In the next five years I aspire to join KNRC and eventually the ARC and WRC Safari Rally. I started motorsport after watched lots of videos of dad rallying and also always naturally had the interest in fast objects. I have always been real petrolhead .I have needed more speed and a bigger engine in my buggy but dad wants me to run one season with the starter buggy that I am using at the present and the small engine."

The Autocross young driver initiative is arguably one of the most successful in Kenya (alongside karting), having produced the likes of FIA RX Lites star Tejas Hirani known for his breakneck speed behind the wheel of a Rage Buggy, the late Arthur Kinyanjui (AK-47), Maxine Wahome who started off in Motocross and  moved on to Autocross and now a new driver in the KNRC.

KCB MMC AUTOCROSS 5-PROVISIONAL FINAL RESULTS

15TH AUGUST 2021

4WD TURBO

1. LOVEJYOT S. KAHLON  (SUBARU) 15:42.06 
2. SAHIB OMAR (SUBARU GC8) 15.53.16
3. SOHANNEET S PUEE (EVO10)  16:03.33 
4. ERIC BENGI (EVO9) 16:07.15 
5. PIERRO CANNOBIO (EVO10)  16:12.23
6. ARJUN PATTNI  (SUBARU GC8) 17:01.10 
7. DINESH VARSANI (SUBARU GC8) 19:01.85 . 

OPEN CLASS 

1. HAMZA ANWAR  (EVOX)15:32.90 
2. HASSAN ALWI (SUBARU)15:46.43 
3. ASAD ANWAR  (MITSUBISHI) 16:18.48 
4. ASAD KHAN (SUBARU N10) 16:50.01 
5. JUNAID SHAH (SUBARU N10)16:56.83 
6. MAXINE WAHOME (SUBARU N10)  17:02.08 
7. AMIT VAJA (SUBARU N10)  17:17.42 
8. KUNAL BHATTI (SUBARU N10) 18:11.65
9. KIRIT RAJPUT (DNF-CAR CAUGHT FIRE)

2WD NON TURBO-CAR

1. SAM KARANGATHA (SUBARU LEON)16.42.77
2. RAJVEER THETHY (DAEWOO) 17.00.85

QUAD

1. GURAJ SINGH (YAMAHA 700R) 18:17.21
2. WAYNE FERNANDES (RAPTOR 700)18.39.33

BAMBINO

1. YUVRAJ RAJPUT  (MAGI BUG 500) 09.03.64
2. KARANVEER S. ROOPRAI (BUGGY) 11:03.04

2WD NON TURBO -JUNIOR

1. NEEL GOHIL(BUGGY) 17.57.78
2. BRANDON NGANGA (BUGGY) 18.56.23
3. HANIFA YAKUB (BARRACUDA 1000) 19.27.95

2WD NT -BUGGY

1. GURAJ SINGH (RAGE BUGGY)16.00.16
2. RAHUL PATEL(RAGE BUGGY)16.36.70
3. ZAMEER VERJEE (RAGE BUGGY)16.38.89
4. ANKUSH SHAH (RAGE BUGGY) 17.19.41
5. YUSUF PASTA (RAGE BUGGY) 18.13.52
6. QAHIR RAHIM (BUGGY)  18.24.89
7. ABHIJEET SINGH 19.58.10

2WD TURBO

1. LOVEJYOT S. KAHLON 16.05.67
2. DEEPAL SHAH 17.12.14
3. SHAZ ESMAIL (ATTACKER BUGGY)17.25.32
4. INDERJEET SINGH 25.40.05