Baldev Singh Chager successfully retained the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title despite an early retirement from the KCB Guru Nanak Rally in Naivasha yesterday. Ian Duncan, navigated by Amaar Slatch in a XADO-sponsored Nissan Patrol, emerged the winner of the final leg of the KNRC, which was held at Buffalo Mall in Naivasha.
Duncan beat Rajbir Rai (Mitsubishi EVOX’s) by just two seconds to register his first top podium spot in the season in one of his traditional “monster pick-ups” that have previously cleared the ground with all and sundry. But Duncan’s win was overshadowed by Chager’s championship victory during the event organised by the Sikh Union.
Chager had his championship success gifted in the early morning loop when Carl “Flash” Tundo, his closest pursuant, retired on competitive stage two. Tundo was forced out of the rally due to fuel-related problems. “A few kilometres in the stage when we saw Tundo’s car by the roadside we actually stopped to say sorry to him because we knew the championship was wrapped up and in the bag,” said Chager.
Chager retired on the transport road section as he was motoring towards the repeat run of Sleeping Warrior stage. “The car has been malfunctioning all this time and we were not going fast. We came into service and thought we had the problem sorted out but the car kept misfiring on the transport section so we opted to retire,” said Chager.