My Sports Tundo promises to be back in a flash
www.standardmedia.co.ke | By Ochieng Oyugi | image credit: rove.me
The ongoing East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) has had several casualties.
good, performing better than the first one. I wish I started the competition with this one we have fixed,” he said. Tundo said he feels better with his return to the competition on Sunday, but just for fun.
Both experts and rookies seem to be suffering similar fates. It is quite unimaginable that the 5000km contest from Naivasha to Watamu is without continental champion Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo in the main classification.
“It was depressing, but now at least we are back, we won’t give up. We want to enjoy some days of rallying here, nothing serious though, just for fun. We aren’t going to be classified anyway.”
Their car suffered a puncture along the Poror-Kipsaos stretch, which was The 48-year-old Kenyan champion followed by a barrage of mechanical and his navigator Tim Jessop were gremlins. forced out of the rankings after blowing up their engine on the second day “We only did one day of the event. of the rally, in Nakuru. I knew we weren’t going far on the second day after the breakdowns; we “It was depressing. We are down but were just hopeful. not out,” Tundo told Standard Sports. “And it came to pass; second day, we “It’s obviously more disappointing to blew the engine and were forced to go out of a competition that early. Be- start rebuilding the car on the third ing out of the rankings knocked the day,” said Tundo. wind out of us. We were sad. I was not in my best spirits in Nakuru, but we While working on the vehicle, Tunhad to pick up ourselves up and get do realised the machine had an empback on the road,” Tundo said. ty block and a faulty camshaft, which they fixed. Tundo’s Triumph TR7 started having issues from the opening day after the “I have rebuilt a new one (block); from flag-off in Naivasha. brackets to the sensors. The engine is
“We are doing the remaining miles just for the thrill. No big deal. We will start planning for the rest of the year after February 18,” added Tundo. At the same time, Tundo approved cancellation of Stage 11 (Mwingi to Zombe route) on Sunday due to human traffic, but felt the organisers could have redirected Stage 12 (Kyululu market to Ithimba) to less populated areas. Ahead of this year’s race, Tundo said he was targeting a strong top 10 finish, if not winning a third title. He won in 2015 and 2017.
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