Onkar Rai was all smiles after winning his first ever Kenya National Rally Championship event in Nakuru over the weekend.
Having started the event in second position, Rai wrapped up the 156.32 kilometre distance top.
He posted the fasted time of 1hr, 36minutes and 18seconds to win ahead of second placed Ian Duncan by a minute and 52 seconds.
“Well, I would say I am very happy and proud to have won my home rally against the top drivers in KNRC.
“To my whole team and the people behind the scenes who never lost their support for me. From my heart I want to say a big thank you. It was a collective win,” said Rai.
Rai’s earlier best finish this year was fourth position during Safari rally. He also posted a sixth and fifth place finish in the Eldoret and Guru Nanak rally respectively.
However, the Kabras racing team driver believes his performance last weekend has set a precedence for his future performances.
“It is very difficult to single out the exact cause of my previous performances. I feel it was a number of things that combined together especially the car which I was still learning.
“But now am more used to the car and it’s braking potential which I still feel I have not mastered well though. And most importantly I managed to sort out my pace notes and be able to commit to them more.
“I certainly hope to do much better in the upcoming event once I get hold of the car well,” he asserted.
Rai drives a Skoda Fabia with Gareth Dawe calling the pace notes.
Ian Duncan who leads the championship settled for second overall to widen his lead. While Carl Tundo and Baldev Charger finish third and fourth respectively.