Carl Tundo, a wheat farmer from the Great Rift Valley, savored his third career KCB Safari Rally victory as curtains came down on “The World’s Toughest Rally.”
Tundo’s calm and assured march to the final service in Isinya belied the excitement that was bubbling underneath- and at exactly 3pm, it spilled over in a solid stream of joy at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC) finish ramp.
In winning the 59th edition of the KCB Safari Rally 2011, the son of former Safari veteran Frank Tundo, achieved his third Safari scalp with previous victories achieved in South Coast in 2004 and 2009 in Nairobi.
“The game plan in the Safari was to get points, because you know if you don’t score points your championship is kind of over; so went in with a sensible head from the first day and on the third stage we realized we were leading by over a minute. We spent lots of time in preparations and made sure everything was running well,” said Tundo.
Ugandan Jas Mangat secured his career best second overall position despite trailing Tundo by a massive 8.43minutes as 1994 WRC Safari Rally winner Ian Duncan sealed the podium dash in 2.52.48hours.
Mangat was all smiles in the wake of champagne celebrations: “It feels great. It hasn’t sunk in yet; I think we will realize this tomorrow. We knew the Safari would be a long and rough rally. Towards the end, we were like four or five people fighting for the third position and at the end of the first stage in the morning they had all caught up with us, so it was a major decision to either push and get a reward or just hang around.”
A jubilant Mangat was also bestowed with the inaugural Lochab Memorial Trophy for the best Sikh driver.
The trophy was donated by the Lochab Brothers from Eldoret in loving memory of the KNRC Division Three driver Randeep Singh Lochab who was killed in a grisly road accident two weeks prior to the Safari.
Tundo’s drive on Leg 1A on Saturday was peerless. He swept through the gravel rally like a tornado claiming all the five stages at stake.
But the Two Times Kenya Champion appeared to back off in Leg Two action on Sunday which featured three stages around Konza, Kipeto and Olekajiado.
As Tundo backed off, youngster Quentin Mitchell set the fastest stage time on CS7 (Konza 2-Olekajuado) while Mangat took CS8 in Kipeto as Duncan wrapped up his Safari campaign with winning CS9.
Behind Tundo was a spirited FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) battle pitting Champion Jamie Whyte and his Zimbabwean counterpart Conrad Rautenbach.
As at CS8 end, Whyte was well on course for a second place but dipped to fourth overall place after the Zimbabwean picked up a puncture on the last stage around Kipeto.
“I am happy with the ARC win. I was not really worried with the outright win. My main worry was to keep Conrad at bay,” commented Whyte.
Kenya’s former Pirelli Star finalist Raaji Singh Bharij relished a fifth career best Safari finish with Conrad Rautenbach settling for sixth overall. But Rautenbach romped home second in the ARC class. However, Whyte had to contend with playing second fiddle to Rautenbach who consolidated his lead in the ARC fray. After four rounds, Rautenbach leads the ARC class with 93points with Jamie waiting to pounce with 76.
After a bothersome drive on Leg 2, Madagascans Jean Yves Ranarivelo and Rila Ranaivomamianina settled for ninth overall position and a credible third in the ARC class on their Safari debut!
Ranarivelo charged quite aggressively with a joint second fastest time in Friday’s Jamhuri Spectators stage and 4th fastest on CS3 and CS4 but had his spirited fight was stymied with two punctures in the latter stages.
Final Results:
1. Carl Tundo/ Tim Jessop –Kenya (Evo 9) 2.43.45 hrs
2. Jas Mangat/ Gihan De Silnva –Uganda- (Subaru N12) 2.52.28
3. Ian Duncan/ Amaar Slatch – Kenya- (Evo 9) 2.52.48
4. James Whyte/ Philip Archenoul – Zimbabwe (Subaru N10) – 2.54.14
5. Raaji Bharij/ Raju Chaggar- Kenya- Subaru N10- 2.54.40
6. Conrad Rautenbach/ Nicholas Klinger –Zimbabwe- (Ford Fiesta S2000)2.55.24
7. Quentin Mitchelle/ Tim Challen-Kenya- (Subaru N16)-2.55.56
8. Hardeep Rehsi/ Ravi Soni- Kenya-(Evo 9)- 2.58.36
9. Jean Yves Ranarivelo/ Rila Ranaivomamiani – Madagascar- (Subaru N12) 2.59.02
10. Imran Mogul/ Mutuma Marimba – Kenya- (Subaru N10)-2.59.02
ARC DRIVERS CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 – After Kenya – Round 4
1. Conrad RAUTENBACH (Zimbabwe) 93 points
2. James WHYTE (Zimbabwe) 76 points
3. Muna SINGH (Zambia) 24 points
4. Schalk BURGER (South Africa) 18 points
5. Giancarlo DAVITE (Rwanda) 15 points
5= Mohammed ESSA (Zambia) 15 points
5= Jean-Yves RANARIVELO (Mad) 15 points
7. Alain DETHISE (Burundi) 12 points
8. Frederik ROKOTOMANGA (Mad) 10 points
ARC NAVIGATORS CHAMPIONSHIP 2011 – After Kenya Round 4
1. Nicolas KLINGER (France) 93 points
2. Phil ARCHENOUL (Zimbabwe) 76 points
3. David SIHOKA (Rwanda) 24 points
4. Armand DU TOIT (South Africa) 18 points
5. Sylvia VINDEVOGEL (Rwanda) 15 points
5= Rila RANAIVOMAMIANIRA (Mad) 15 points
7. Roland VAN DER VEKEN (Burundi) 12 points
8. Adam YACHINE (Mad) 10 points
MANUFACTURERS 2011 – After Kenya Round 4
1. Ford 93 points
2. Subaru 76 points
3. Mitsubishi 18 points
4. Toyota 15 points