2024 motorsport recap: A 12 months of observe and mud battles
2024 motorsport recap: A 12 months of observe and mud battles
Friday twenty seventh December, 2024 01:00 AM|
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The 2024 motorsport season roared to life with the proper mixture of adrenaline-pumping motion and boardroom drama, leaving followers on the fringe of their seats each on and off the observe. It’s pointless to say that it has been a 12 months to recollect, each on and off the observe. The 2024 season was really one for the books within the latest historical past of motorsports.
Boardroom battles
From boardroom politics to rallying phenomena throughout the continent and the Safari Rally, there was one thing for each spectator who craved thrills and the roar of engines.
However, the native rallying scene confronted challenges, notably low entries within the Kenya National Rallying Championship (KNRC). This was largely attributed to exorbitant registration prices for internet hosting rights and drivers, sparking discontent, notably with the Kenya Motorsports Federation (KMSF) administration.
The state of affairs in home rallying was unpre-cedented, with 4 occasions cancelled for failing to fulfill the required competitors thresholds. Despite this, the finished races witnessed a fierce battle for honors between Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Chana and Samman Vohra/Alfir Khan, which lasted till the season’s finish.
Jasmeet Chana stays one of many few drivers to have received in all classes, together with 2WD, Division One, Division Three, Group N and Group S, since his debut in 2007. He was the runner-up within the 2022 KNRC season after an intense homestretch battle, ending simply behind Karan Patel.
Meanwhile, politics inside the KMSF dominated the headlines for a lot of the season.
Jim Kahumbura and Maina Muturi have been embroiled in a management dispute that ended up in court docket, with each events in search of authorized orders to resolve the stalemate. Muturi, the bona fide elected chairperson of KMSF, was briefly barred from persevering with as chair following a case filed by KMSF director James Kahumbura and different administrators difficult his management. Senior Principal Magistrate A. Nyoike issued the orders.
Muturi, who was elected chairman in 2023, served for a 12 months earlier than questions surrounding his eligibility arose, resulting in his elimination by the Federation’s Board of Directors.
Kahumbura, a former KMSF chairman, was reinstated throughout a contentious board assembly on September 28 on the Sikh Union Club in Nairobi.
2024 in perspective
On the continental stage, Kenya’s Karan Patel had a stellar season within the Africa Rally Championship (ARC), securing the title with two rounds to spare. Patel dominated the 2024 season, profitable 4 legs in Uganda, Zimbabwe, Burundi and Rwanda.
However, monetary constraints and low registrations led to the cancellation of the Tanzanian and Ivorian legs. Patel amassed 140 factors, comfortably forward of Uganda’s Michael Mukula, who earned 47 factors after collaborating in solely two races. Jas Mangat of Uganda completed third with 27 factors, whereas Kenya’s Hamza Anwar got here in fourth with 24 factors.
Since its inception in 1981, the ARC has delivered spectacular motion amidst gorgeous landscapes. Boosted by Kenya’s return to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2021, the ARC continues to develop in power and repute, regardless of disruptions brought on by the worldwide well being pandemic.
Naivasha satisfaction
The international spectacle that’s the WRC Safari Rally as soon as once more returned to Naivasha in Nakuru County. The 2024 Safari Rally Kenya, held from March 28-31, was the third spherical of the 2024 World Rally Championship, in addition to World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3.
The occasion featured 19 particular phases over a complete distance of 355.92 kilometers.
Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT claimed the general victory with a time of three:36:04.0. Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson triumphed within the WRC-2 class, whereas Hamza Anwar and Adnan Din emerged victorious in WRC-3.
Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais, the 2023 rally winners, together with Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, efficiently defended their titles in 2024.
