Spectators will be barred from this weekend’s KCB Voi Rally due to escalating cases of Covid-19.
On Monday, The Ministry of Health announced that 591 people tested positive for Covid-19 from a sample of 4,737 tested. The positivity rate in the country is now 12 percent with total confirmed positive cases of 204,271 and cumulative fatalities totaling 3,970.
Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) General Manager Mwaura Njuguna said the Sikh Union organized event will be run in accordance with World Governing Body (FIA) guidelines as well as Ministry of Health (MOH) protocols.
However, event officials, team crews, mechanics and media personalities will be allowed to operate within their work stations in line with stringent pandemic measures including social distancing and mask wearing.
There will be a Covid officer to oversee the adherence of coronavirus protocols.
“In line with the Government of Kenya and FIA Covid-19 guidelines, organizers will not allow spectators in the Voi Rally to discourage social gathering,” said KMSF General Manager Mwaura Njuguna.
Over 20 drivers have signed up for the event which will revolved around Taita Taveta County. The event will revisit some of Kenya’s iconic stages around Taita Hills, Kasigau and Maungu; running through a sisal estate and private ranches.
According to Deputy Clerk of the Course, Qahir Rahim the event will provide different challenge for competitors with varied terrain taking in smooth fast roads, rocky outcrops, the deep red sand baths of Tsavo and the short blasts through the parched bushland that may well prove very testing for heated tyres.
Series leader Onkar Rai and his elder sibling Tejveer Rai will be the notable absentees in the event which will start and end at the Voi Wildlife Lodge.
Tejveer is still recuperating from the accident he encountered on day one of Safari.
In absence of the Rais, there is a chance by Carl “Flash” Tundo and Baldev Chager to surpass Onkar’s massive lead.
Rai currently leads the KNRC log with 73 points followed by Tundo (56 points) and Chager (54 points) while Tejveer and Jasmeet Chana are fourth and fifth with 49 points and 43 points respectively to their names. As for Onkar, the racing fraternity will miss the antics that saw him win Safari’s WRC3 category in Naivasha last month.
Saturday’s event will count towards the fourth leg of the KCB Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) after the season’s opening Nakuru Rally, Equator Rally and WRC Safari.
Battle royale looms in Division 1 where joint leaders Paras Pandya and Nikhil Sachania will go for each other’s jugular. McRae Kimathi and Dilraj Chatthe are a distant third on 30 points apiece.
Group N action will involve Premier Class driver in Jasmeet Chana (78 points), Paras (47 points), Evans Kavisi (34 points) and Hamza Anwar (30 points).
Legendary Ian Duncan tops the Specially Prepared Vehicles (SPV) class with 30 points ahead of Nikhil on 44. Duncan has nevertheless entered a Minti Motorsports Nissan 240. RS The repeat run of Izera Ranch stage (5.45km) will be the Power Stage where the top three fastest drivers will earn bonus points in the championship.
KCB VOI RALLY 2021 ROUND 4 /06th - 07th AUGUST 2021
ENRY LIST
1 (#3 Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop ( EVO 10-Top Fry)
2 (#1) Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (EVO 10-Kabras Sugar Racing)
3 (#8) Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan (Ford Fiesta -R5 Filmico Racing)
4 (#7) Eric Bengi/Peter Mutuma (EVO 10 - Menengai Cream Racing)
5 (#9) Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Chana (EVO 10 -Jaguar Petroleum)
6 (#10) Issa Amwari/Dennis Mwenda (EVO10-KCB Bank Rally Team)
7 (#23) Aakif Virani/Azhar Bhatti (Skoda Fabia R5- Arrow Rally Team)
8 (# 5) Ian Duncan /Tej Sehmi (Nissan 240 RS- Minti Motorsport)
9 (#57) Hamza Anwar/TBA (EVO10 - Hamza Racing)
10 (#59) Dilraj Chatthe/Gurdeep Panesar (EVO 10- Team Kibos)
11 (#20) Nikhil Sachania/Deep Patel (EVO 10 Filmico Racing)
12 (#15) Paras Pandya/Falgun Bhojak (EVO 10 - Synergy Gases)
13 (#55) Piero Canobbio/TBA (EVO 10 - Kilifi Complex)
14 (#26) Hussein Malik Steven Njenga (EVO 10- BETIKA )
15 (#200) Hassan Alwi-UG/Riyaz Ismail (Subaru- IUEA)
16 (#34) Daren Miranda Amman Neekunj ( Subaru - Team GOA)
17 (#63) Rehan Shah Harshil Limbani (Subaru Impreza – BETIKA)
18 (#22) Edward Maina Anthony Gichohi (Subaru -Emka Racing Team)
19 (#66) Andrew Muiruri Edward Njoroge (Subaru Impreza – BETIKA)
20 (#58) Maxine Wahome/Linet Ayuko (Subaru Impreza- Maxine Rally Team)
21 (#63) Shakeel Khan Assad Mughal (Ford Escort- ALS Motorsports )
22 (#62) Gerald Wairuri/ Henry Nyoike (Subaru -BETIKA )
23 (#61) John Fernandes/Rattos Nique (Subaru -Team GOA)
KNRC STANDINGS AFTER SAFARI RALLY
- Onkar Singh Rai 73
- Carl Tundo 56
- Baldev Singh Chager 54
- Tejveer Singh Rai 49
- Jasmeet Singh Chana 43
- Eric Bengi 33
- Karan Patel 25
- Jas Mangat (UG) 21
- Ian Duncan 21
- Giancarlo Davite (RWA) 19
