Amaan Ganatra, Bengi brothers dominate Kenya National Autocross Championship opener

Rising star Amaan Ganatra in action at the season opening Sikh Union National Autocross event in Kasarani .

MOTORSPORTS Amaan Ganatra, Bengi brothers dominate Kenya National Autocross Championship opener

Festus Chuma 21:00 - 04.02.2024

Young talents Amaan Ganatra and Bengi brothers excel in Kenya National Autocross opener.

Youngster Amaan Ganatra and Eric Bengi were among the star attractions as round one of the Kenya National Autocross Championship culminated at Kasarani's SSS WRC racetrack.

Amaan, son of retired Autocross and Rally Raid driver Altaf Ganatra, won the Two Wheel Drive Non Turbo Car Class beating Jose Sardinha and Daniel Mwangi to a breathtaking podium dash.

Amaan took part in two categories finishing second in 4WD Turbo Class behind champion Eric Bengi.

In the Two Wheel Drive NT car class, Amaan drove a Toyota RunX while in 4WD Turbo he steered a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9.

And it was a scintillating family affair as Bengi's two sons Allan and Eaan won their respective category .

Allan Bengi won the Pee Wee Class whilst his brother Eaan Bengi got his mitts on the Bambino class' top spot much to his credit.

Rajveer Thethy beat defending champion John Kadivani to second palace in a hotly contested Open Class showdown.

Rajveer's dad Charan Thethy completed the podium dash in third. Charan is an old hand in the game having previously won the Two Wheel Drive National Rally Championship.

Rajveer , on the other hand, is one of Kenya's fastest rising young drivers in the country at the present.

Gitau Munene in a time of 05:18.21 caused a major upset by defeating defending champion Karamveer Rooprai (05:38.33) and Cheche Ababu (06:04.78) to the podium in Junior Two Wheel Drive Non Turbo Class.

Cheche Ababu is son of Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

The Sikh Union Nairobi organised marked the start of the busy Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) calendar.

As is the tradition, the Autocross series will feature 10 rounds across the country.

Eldoret Rally - organized by Western Kenya Motor Club (WKMC) - will opening the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) on the weekend of February 17-18.

Nanyuki Rally returns to the 9-leg rally series as the fourth event of the season on the weekend of June 15-16 after a one-year hiatus.

Last year’s Nanyuki Rally Group (NRG) round was run by Eldoret after the former requested to skip their event citing logistical challenges.

The 2024 Kenyan Rally schedule is as follows: 17-18 Feb: KNRC1- Eldoret Rally (WKMC), 30-31 March: KNRC2-WRC Safari Rally ,25-26 May: KNRC3-KRT Rally (KRT), 15-16 June: KNRC 4: Nanyuki Rally (NRG), 13-14 July: KNRC 5: Nankuru Rally (RVMSC), 10-11 Aug: KNRC 6: Mombasa Rally (MMC), 7-8 Sep: KNRC 7: KMSC Rally (KMSC), 26-27 Oct: KNRC 8: ARC Equator Rally Kenya (SUC) and 30 Nov-1 Dec: KNRC 9- Guru Nanak Rally (SUC).

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