Nairobi — A common thread among the dominant drivers in the Kenya National Rally Championship is that they are almost all farmers or mechanics.

The most famous mechanic of them all is Ian Duncan, who won his fifth KNRC title in 2000. He had taken the title from Limuru horticultural farmer, Rory Green.

Green then won the title back-to-back in 2001 and 2002 before passing it on to Nakuru wheat farmer, Lee Rose in 2003 and 2004.

Then automobile engineer Azar Anwar, also with a farming background, won the title in 2005 and 2006 before passing it on to Carl Tundo, a Lanet-based farmer in 2007 and 2009.

Nairobi-based mechanic Baldev Chager won the rally in 2008.

This year could be different. A driver not affiliated to farming or mechanics is closing in on the title.

Nairobi businessman Alastair Cavenagh is the surprise championship contender this year. He has set a pace that even speed merchant Rose is unable to keep up with.

Cavenagh's secret has been his Mitsubishi EVO9 car. It has undergone various rebuilds after almost each event.

With the KCB Micro Banking Rally slated to run in Mogotio today, Cavenagh is the man to beat.

If he can keep it together, then this championship can easily be his. The damage and repairs let him down slightly in Kisumu, where he lost six minutes in service with a damaged rear suspension.

Farmers and mechanics like Chager, Tundo and Rose have struggled this season with mechanical problems.

In their hunt for points, top drivers have had no choice but to go for higher technology.

Reigning champion Lee Rose is expected to revert to his Mitsubishi EVO9 in his Nakuru home turf.

But he will have to contend with fellow home boy Tundo, who suffered gearbox gremlins in the Meru race.

"New cars mean that more research has been put into the next model in terms of engine performance, suspension chassis and electrical traction control," said Chager.

"Group N rules also specify homologation expiry dates and it is better to own a car that has more years left of homologation as this keeps up the value of the car. But you must have a competitive machine to be at the very top."

Asad Anwar, the master of special stages, has struggled this season. His brother and three-time Kenya champion, Azar Anwar, also in the Oilibya team, is struggling with his EVO8 formerly owned by Cavenagh.

Azar is amazed at the new pace that Cavenagh, Rose and Chager have been putting up.

Peter Horsey is the new kid on the block. He has shown a big improvement since being exposed to the World Rally Championship round in Turkey and Portugal. Horsey is the son of 1984 Africa rally champion David Horsey.

Without a doubt he will be gunning for the top spots towards the ending of the season. With proper backing from the family and exposure to top teams and tactics, he is capable of upsetting the top order.

For example, all drivers usually get to the start of a stage with a few minutes to spare.

Peter, however, showed a different style in Kisumu, where he would park at least 2km before the stage and dash to the start control with seconds to spare.Asked why, he says the brakes and tires are usually all warmed up by then, ready to go.

This is a technique nobody has used here so far. The WRC has definitely taught him a few simple tricks.

He has been relegated to the rotation system of the division one drivers, which says a lot.