Gurraj Singh is confident he will be able to fight hard for success in the remaining 2022 Kenya National Autocross Championship rounds.
The Two Wheel Drive Non-Turbo Buggy leader says he is not ready to see victories slip from his grasp as a result of reliability issues or human errors.
Gurraj, who registered his fourth straight win of the season in Vipingo a fortnight ago, is eager to resume his title chase in Kiambu’s Twisty Corners racetrack where the belated fourth round of the National Autocross Championship series is scheduled for this Sunday. The south round is being organized by Sikh Union Club Nairobi (SUC).
The soft spoken driver is currently focussing on his driving lines as he works to achieve his maiden title in Two Wheel Drive Non-Turbo Buggy Class.
Gurraj’s rivals in the much anticipated Kiambu race weekend include second placed Manveer Ghale, his teammate Rahul Patel and Ankush Shah Manoj.
Gurraj: “We need to keep pushing for the Championship. We haven’t tested the buggy because Mombasa round of the Autocross happened two weekends ago, so the the buggy was still functioning well and in good nick.”
Asked if Twisty Corners suits his style, Gurraj added: “For me, any kind of surface is fine. I just need to make sure I don’t make mistakes and push the buggy to its limits without any failures. It’s been a good rivalry with Manveer so far. He’s been very consistent and performing very well in his rookie season. We are both pushing each other which is always good for the competition.”
Manveer, who competes for Shazco Racing Team under the Jaguar Petroloum bunner, said: “My 2022 season has been amazing so far. The first two events I managed to finish on the podium in Nakuru and Jamhuri. Mombasa Autocross event was a new track for me; so I was very cautious on my driving lines. This weekend, I would just like to have a clean race and finish the event and get some good points that will help me hold my championship standing , a podium finish would be great at Twisty Corners.”
Gurraj will be joined in Sunday’s by his two BBBS Racing teammates Deepal Shah (Two Wheel Drive Turbo) and Rahul Patel (Two Wheel Drive Non-Turbo Buggy) who is son of retired rally driver Yogesh Patel.
Manveer, who is the newest driver in the Shazco stable, will team up with Shaz Eamail aka Coach and Qahir Rahim both entered in Two Wheel Drive Turbo Class..
He is among the over 20 drivers enlisted for the belated Sikh Union round which had been called off due to April torrential rains.
Gurraj in his Rage Buggy currently enjoys a 26-point advantage over newcomer Manveer who returns to the series with an ex-Qahir Rahim Two-Seater Buggy.
Junior 2WD Non Turbo Class has attracted leader Neel Gohil, Amaan Ganatra and Yuvraj Rajput who is the outgoing Bambino Class champion. Fourteen year-old-Neel is a young motorsport athlete under Jaguar Lubricant City and Salomon Kenya.
Sameer Nanji will be hoping to maintain his winning streak in Two Wheel Drive Non-Turbo Car Class- against Bhupinder Singh.
In Two Wheel Drive Turbo Class, leader Qahir will be up against lady driver Nisha Pandya, Brandon Ng’ang’a, Azaad Manji and Deepal Shah.
Bambino Class will be see leader Karamveer Singh Rooprai fight to retain his position at the summit.
Bambino girl rider Kiana Rajput skipping Kiambu race due to personal commitment.
Father and son team of Eric Bengi and his son Eann Bengi are also expected to return to the Four Wheel Drive Turbo and Pee Wee classes. Both are leading their Championship classes.
KENYA NATIONAL AUTOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIP 2022
2WD NON TURBO BUGGY
1 Gurraj Singh 83
2 Manveer Ghale 57
3 Rahul Patel 49
4 Ankush Manoj Shah 39
5 Kirit Rajput 14
6 Yusuf Pasta 15
2WD NON TURBO CAR
1 Sameer Nanji 86
2 Bhupinder Sagoo 49
3 Carol Gatimu 31
4 Ahil Khan 19
5 Gatimu Mindo 15
6 Tinashe Gatimu 13
2WD TURBO BUGGY
1 Qahir Rahim 72
2 Brandon Ng’ang’a 51
3 Azaad Manji 49
4 Nisha Pandya 40
5 Deepal Shah 39
6 Shaz Ismail 28
7 Inderjeet Puee 14
8 Zuber Manji 13
9 Deep Patel 0
4WD TURBO
1 Eric Bengi 44
2 George Njoroge 30
3 Hussain Malik 22
4 Aakif Virani 22
5 Hamza Anwar 17
6 Gatimo Mindo 17
7 Mustwafa Murad 15
8 Asad Anwar 15
9 Abhi Puee 15
10 John Ngugi14
11 Steve Gacheru 14
12 Lisa Christoffersen 12
13 Karan Patel 0
OPEN
1 Rajveer Thethy 76
2 Charan Thethy 37
3 Abdul Kadir Tarmal 22 22
4 Hamza Anwar 17
5 Maxine Wahome 15
6 Mustwafa Murad 14
7 Arjun Pattin 14
8 Safina Khan13
9 John Ngugi 12
10 Pauline Sheghu 11
BAMBINO
1 Karamveer Singh Rooprai 86
2 Saad Shamil Farouq 32
3 Kiana Rajput 17
4 Eann Bengi 17
JUNIOR 2WD NON TURBO
1 Neel Gohil 80
2 Amaan Ganatra 57
3 Yuvraj Rajput 34
4 Salim Mansoor 29
5 Amraj Malle DNE 15
6 Tinashe Gatimu 15
PEEWEE
1. Eann Bengi 40
