Leonardo Varese and his navigator Kigo Kareithi/ HANDOUTSix-time Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) Two-Wheel Drive champion Leonardo Varese and navigator Kigo Kareithi are targeting a strong start to the new season when the opening round of the KNRC roars into life on Friday at Stoni Athi.
The season-opening event, organised by 254 Motorsports Club and sanctioned by Motorsport Federation-Kenya, will see the experienced duo line up in the SportPesa Racing Toyota Yaris GR as they continue the development of the rally machine.
“Yes, Kigo and I. We are driving the Yaris GR,” Varese confirmed.
For Varese, a six-time 2WD champion with titles in 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2022, as well as the 2017 Division Two and 2022 Division Three crowns, Stoni Athi presents another crucial opportunity to fine-tune the Yaris GR, which made its debut during the WRC Safari Rally in March.
“As part of developing the new car to its full potential and for rally conditions in Kenya, we shall be taking part in the KNRC first round," said Varese.
“We are looking forward to runjing more tests on the car at Stoni Athi."
In addition to the Safari, the team also put the Yaris GR through its paces at the Shell National Autocross & Autocross Plus also held at Stoni Athi in May.
However, Varese believes there is still plenty of work ahead before the car reaches its full competitive potential.
“We are still learning the car. In the Safari, we were driving at 60 per cent," he said.
At the Safari Rally, Varese finished 18th overall in the national classification, a result that provided valuable mileage and data for the team's development programme.
Despite the encouraging signs, the veteran driver insists the Yaris GR is only scratching the surface of its capabilities.
“The car is pretty much standard. We are doing the development and testing. But it has huge room for improvement,” he added.
Meanwhile, Javed Lota, fondly known as the "Tarmac King," will be chasing a top-five finish on terrain he knows like the back of his hand.
The reigning Delta Motorsports Club (DMSC) Tarmac 4WD champion returns to Stoni Athi, a course on which he has built his reputation through impressive performances in the Shell National Autocross & Autocross Plus series.
“KNRC 1 is here with us. Luckily, it’s in Stoni Athi, a terrain we are familiar with, and hopefully we will be going for a top-five finish or, with a bit of luck, a podium,” Lota said.
To boost entries for the Stoni Athi spectacle, organisers have announced free registration, a move expected to attract a strong field and set the stage for an intense battle in the KNRC series.
"I am delighted to announce that MK-F will waive all entry fees for Round 1 of the Kenya National Rally Championship, scheduled for July 31 and August 1, 2026. We hope this gesture encourages strong participation as we begin this exciting new chapter for motorsport in Kenya together," Altaf Ganatra, the newly-elected president of the Motorsports Kenya-Federation (MK-F) said in a statement.
