By GPC Sports Reporter
Multiple Safari Rally and Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) champion Baldev Chager says Kenyan motorsport is increasingly being shaped by a fearless new generation of drivers challenging the established order.
Chager spoke after Round Six of the Shell 2026 Kenya National Autox and Autox Plus Championship at Kasarani SSS Racetrack, where he finished third in the premier 4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm class behind 17-year-old winner Amaan Ganatra and Harpreet Bhogal.
Organised by 254 Motorsports Club, the event marked a popular return to Kasarani from the championship’s usual venue at Stoni Athi circuit. The two-day meeting featured autocross on the first day and Autox Plus on the second.
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Chager, who competed with his daughter Kareen as co-driver, welcomed the rising standard of competition despite being beaten by the younger drivers.
“The youngsters are taking the sport by storm,” he said after finishing third in the class.
“Nice, dry, dusty track at Kasarani SSS. Thoroughly enjoyed having my daughter as the co-driver, not enjoying being beaten by the youngsters though, which is a really positive sign.
“The boys are really aggressive and driving really well. I’m glad to see that the level of competition is getting higher. We were always the benchmark and now we are not anymore. To me, it’s just a positive vibe I am seeing through the sport as we continue to grow.”
The veteran champion’s assessment was reflected in the performance of SportPesa-backed Adriano Varese, son of multiple 2WD champion Leonardo Varese.
The younger Varese, who is planning to join the KNRC, finished fourth in the 2WD Non Turbo Senior Car class in autocross before securing second place in the same category during Autox Plus.
Tinashe Gatimu, part of the famous mother-and-daughter team that made its mark at the Safari Rally, also welcomed the return to Kasarani, describing the venue as a special place for competitors and fans.
“Kasarani has always been great,” she said. “It is more technical, more spectator-friendly, and it brings back so many good memories for WRC fans. We have missed it.”
Navigated by Elvis Kiberi in the 4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm class, Gatimu finished sixth in autocross and fourth in Autox Plus.
Ganatra dominates premier class
In the Shell 2026 Kenya National Autox Championship Round Six autocross competition, Ganatra and co-driver Mudasar Chaudhry emerged victorious in the 4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm class in 10:44.264.
Bhogal and Rizwan Khan finished second in 10:45.461, while Chager and Kareen Chager completed the podium in 10:53.063.
Sahib Omar was fourth in 10:58.766, followed by Ankush Shah and Qahir Rahim in 11:40.360. Gatimu and Kiberi finished sixth in 12:29.151, with Safina Khan and Ahil Khan seventh in 12:30.662.
In the 2WD Non Turbo Senior Car category, Michuki Hinga and Dennis Yaya claimed victory in 12:01.065. Abdulmalik and Alykhan Malik finished second in 12:15.912, while Muaaz Adil was third in 12:24.314.
Varese and Jason Kareithi placed fourth in 12:30.610, ahead of Suleiman Munyua, who clocked 12:35.014.
Gurdeep Bharij won the 2WD Turbo Buggy class in 11:11.465, ahead of Harpreet Bhogal in 11:23.521. Ian Duncan also featured among the class competitors, although his time was not included in the supplied results.
In the Cadet Junior Non Turbo Buggy category, Aayan Azim won in 11:37.601. Andrea Tundo finished second in 11:55.309, followed by Eann Bengi in 11:57.805. Karamveer Rooprai was fourth in 12:28.817, while Muzakkir Mohamed and Ibrahim Taher finished fifth in 13:11.517.
Rehan Shah took the Open Class victory in 11:17.462, narrowly ahead of Junaid Shah and Aal Shah, who clocked 11:18.360. Ahil Khan and Safina Khan finished third in 11:28.261, while Javed Lota and Konaine Yakub were fourth in 11:34.013.
Other winners in the autocross competition included Leo Kangethe in the Senior Non Turbo Buggy class with a reported time of 12:49.758; Suleiman Abdulgani in the 4WD Non Turbo Car category in 12:43.809; Satjote Saimbi in Quad Bikes in 13:02.611; Suleiman Munyua in the 2WD Turbo Car class in 13:54.966; Myles O’Neal in the Alpha Junior Non Turbo Buggy category in 16:40.610; and Allan Bengi in the Beta Junior Non Turbo Buggy class in 12:53.312.
Ganatra completes Autox Plus double
Ganatra maintained his impressive form in the Shell 2026 Kenya National Autox Plus Championship Round Six, winning the 4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm class in 23:19.461 in the three-section competition.
Shah and Rahim finished second in 24:01.420, followed by Bhogal and Khan in 24:22.062. Gatimu and Kiberi took fourth place in 27:36.070.
Abdulmalik and Malik won the 2WD Non Turbo Senior Car class in 27:08.664, ahead of Varese and Kareithi, who finished in 27:45.167. Adil was third in 27:51.811.
Bharij continued his strong performance by winning the 2WD Turbo Buggy category in 25:03.469, while Rooprai claimed the Cadet Junior Non Turbo Buggy class in 34:53.466.
Lota and Yakub won the Autox Plus Open Class in 24:33.065, recovering from a technical glitch that had left them fourth in the corresponding autocross category. Shaz Esmail and Rahim finished second in 28:48.170.
Wayne Fernandes won the Quad Bikes category in 29:28.075, while Munyua topped the 2WD Turbo Car class in 35:38.113.
The return to Kasarani provided a platform for established champions and emerging drivers to compete on a technical circuit that attracted renewed enthusiasm from participants, with Ganatra’s double victory and Varese’s strong showing reinforcing Chager’s view that the sport’s competitive landscape is changing.
Full results
Shell 2026 Kenya National Autox Championship, Round Six — Autocross
Cadet Junior Non Turbo Buggy
- Aayan Azim — 11:37.601
- Andrea Tundo — 11:55.309
- Eann Bengi — 11:57.805
- Karamveer Rooprai — 12:28.817
- Muzakkir Mohamed/Ibrahim Taher — 13:11.517
2WD Non Turbo Senior Car
- Michuki Hinga/Dennis Yaya — 12:01.065
- Fahim Abdulmalik/Alykhan Malik — 12:15.912
- Muaaz Adil — 12:24.314
- Adriano Varese/Jason Kareithi — 12:30.610
- Suleiman Munyua — 12:35.014
2WD Turbo Buggy
- Gurdeep Bharij — 11:11.465
- Harpreet Bhogal — 11:23.521
- Ian Duncan — time not supplied
4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm
- Amaan Ganatra/Mudasar Chaudhry — 10:44.264
- Harpreet Bhogal/Rizwan Khan — 10:45.461
- Baldev Chager/Kareen Chager — 10:53.063
- Sahib Omar — 10:58.766
- Ankush Shah/Qahir Rahim — 11:40.360
- Tinashe Gatimu/Elvis Kiberi — 12:29.151
- Safina Khan/Ahil Khan — 12:30.662
Open Class
- Rehan Shah — 11:17.462
- Junaid Shah/Aal Shah — 11:18.360
- Ahil Khan/Safina Khan — 11:28.261
- Javed Lota/Konaine Yakub — 11:34.013
Shell 2026 Kenya National Autox Plus Championship, Round Six
Cadet Junior Non Turbo Buggy
- Karamveer Rooprai — 34:53.466
2WD Non Turbo Senior Car
- Fahim Abdulmalik/Alykhan Malik — 27:08.664
- Adriano Varese/Jason Kareithi — 27:45.167
- Muaaz Adil — 27:51.811
2WD Turbo Buggy
- Gurdeep Bharij — 25:03.469
4WD Turbo Car Restrictor 35mm
- Amaan Ganatra/Mudasar Chaudhry — 23:19.461
- Ankush Shah/Qahir Rahim — 24:01.420
- Har
