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Kenya: Motorsport - Chager Leads Top Drivers to Embu Race
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The Nation (Nairobi)
8 May 2008
Posted to the web 8 May 2008
Sammy Kitula
Nairobi
The motor sports Personality of the Year award winner, Baldev Chager, has taken pole position in the KCB Biashara Banking Rally set for this weekend in Embu.
Although he trails his team-mate and series leader, Lee Rose, by 20 points in the Kenya National Rally Championship series, Chager said he aimed to get maximum championship points this weekend.
"The aim is to try and get the Triton team in the best positions possible by the time the season ends," said Chager Wednesday.
"We want good, steady and consistent results this year. A few wins could be great too."
Navigated by Farakh Yusuf in a Subaru Impreza N12, Chager will lead 39 other drivers in the Saturday, 2pm flag-off at the KCB Embu branch.
Triton's Rose leads the series with 80 points after winning the KCB Simba Savings Rally last month.
Chager is second with 60 points followed by Carl Tundo on 50, while Alastair Cavenagh is fourth with 40 points.
Drivers sponsored by petroleum companies take up the first seven positions.
They include Chager/Rose (Triton Sports), Tundo (Dalbit Petroleum), former group N champion, Sammy Aslam (Kenol Racing) and the Awar brothers, Azad and Azar (Oilibya Rally Team).
Though the Dalbit Petroleum team is content with second place in the battle for fuel companies, they will be at pains to stamp their authority in Embu.
The company, however, received a setback after Alistair Cavenagh pulled out of the Embu action, leaving his team-mate Ian Duncan to fight it out in his Ford Mustang.
Speaking Wednesday during a media briefing, Rallye Sports Club director, Dave Macharia, said Cavenagh had pulled out citing mechanical problems.
"It's quite unfortunate that he won't be at the Rally, but that won't dampen the already upbeat mood of other drivers," he said.
Tundo and Cavenagh emerged third and fourth after the gruelling KCB Simba Savings Rally in Ngong and Suswa last month.
In Suswa, top drivers were in a class of their own and the times showed it.
Equally impressive despite steering breakage was Duncan, whose rear wheel drive classic Ford Mustang excited the crowds with its breathtaking sideway manoeuvres, a real treat for the spectators.
Scrutineering will take place on Saturday at 9am at the Triton Petrol Station in Kutus, and thereafter the cars will regroup for a ceremonial start outside KCB Embu Branch at 2pm heading straight into a competitive stage at Embu Stadium.
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Lee Rose of Triton Rally team took an early lead in the KCB KNRC rally, setting a blistering pace as usual. But the surprise package was Baldev Chager who kept up with Triton Petroleum team mate (Rose) to finish a mere seven seconds behind.
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