By KPC Reporter
Defending champion Piers Daykin made the perfect start to his Equatorial Rally title defense, stamping his authority early as he claimed Day One honours in the second edition of the event.
Navigated by Lloyd Destro, the Rocca Rally crew wasted no time asserting control, guiding their Datsun 280Z to an overnight lead in a cumulative time of 2:49:16.1.
Also Read
The rally officially roared into life earlier in the day with a ceremonial flag-off at Mwatunge Grounds in Mwatate, presided over by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime alongside County Executive Committee Member for Sports Shadrack Mutungi and other guests.
From the opening stage between Block 11 and Block 8 Camp, Daykin and Destro immediately set the benchmark, clocking 46:30 in their Datsun 280Z.
Rally veteran Ian Duncan, navigated by Jaspal Matharu in a similar machine, slotted into second with a composed and measured run, while Carl Tundo and his son Billy brought their Triumph TR7 V8 home in third.
That early statement carried into the second stage, the demanding 85.85-kilometre stretch from Latika to Langa, where Daykin and Destro tightened their grip on the rally.
Another commanding drive saw them stop the clock at 1:11:27.9, securing back-to-back stage victories.
Behind them, Robert Calder and Gavin Laurence, also in a Datsun 280Z, delivered a strong and consistent run to finish second, 2 minutes and 48.4 seconds off the lead.
Carl and Billy Tundo maintained their presence at the front to remain firmly in contention.
By the penultimate stage, pressure from behind was building, but Daykin and Destro once again responded in style, setting the pace with a time of 51:18.1 to underline their dominance.
This time, Carl and Billy Tundo produced one of their strongest runs of the day, pushing hard in the Triumph TR7 V8 to take second on the stage, just 1 minute and 18.7 seconds behind.
Ian Duncan and Jaspal Matharu completed the top three, keeping themselves within striking distance heading into Day Two.
Reflecting on his approach, Daykin revealed he had deliberately changed his driving style to suit the punishing terrain.
“I’ve adjusted my driving style for this rally,” he said.
“I’m not taking any risks on the rough sections, just focusing on keeping it clean and consistent because that approach seems to be working better for us.”
He added that traffic on the narrow hill sections had been one of the day’s biggest challenges.
“The bikes especially have nowhere to go, and that can get quite tricky. But for me, the focus is simple — just finish. I’m thinking about that all day. Getting through today clean feels like a win already.”
Governor Mwadime welcomed the rally as more than just a motorsport event, saying it was helping restore the county’s image and strengthen community identity.
“The county is gaining a lot, especially at this moment where we are moving in all directions… to regain back the image of Taita Taveta as it used to be before,” he said.
He added that future editions should involve more local cultural participation.
“In future, when this rally is happening, we should have Mazindika dancing over here, the local dance, so that even the community can feel they are part and parcel of the rally.”
Drama on the Stages
It was, however, not a smooth run for every crew.
Car 21 of Angelo Perez-Riemer and Konstantin Mastalka in a Datsun Violet GT failed to start the morning stage due to technical issues, attracting a lateness penalty calculated from the slowest stage time plus an additional hour.
Meanwhile, Car 6 of Shakeel Khan and navigator Assad “Bones” Mughal, also in a Ford Escort Mk 1, did not start the second stage after being sidelined by a fuel leak, halting their progress as they worked to resolve the issue before rejoining.
Car 31 of Mukesh Jani and Shameer Yusuf was also forced out of the rally after hitting a pole in the third stage, bringing their day to an early end.
Tundo Impressed by Son Billy
For Carl Tundo, the day was not just about competition but also about guiding his son Billy through his first proper rally experience.
“Billy has done an incredible job today, especially considering this is his first proper rally,” said Tundo.
“The notes aren’t easy, but he’s handled them really well and that’s given me the confidence to push a bit more.”
He said the two kept communicating through every stage to help Billy settle into rhythm.
“It’s all about building that understanding,” he said, while admitting the terrain had taken its toll.
“The stages have been tough, especially the second one — it was really rough and I’ve taken a few knocks on my elbow along the way. But overall, I’m really proud of how he’s handled himself.”
Calder Staying Patient
Robert Calder, who ended the day third overall, said reliability was just as important as outright speed.
“I’m happy to be at the end of day one,” he said.
“We had a bit of overheating in the first stage, but we managed to sort that out and from there the car felt good.”
Calder acknowledged the challenge of chasing the pace set by Daykin.
“It’s never easy chasing someone like Piers, but we’ll keep pushing and see what happens.”
He added that survival on the rough terrain would be key.
“The stages are tough, very rocky and rough in places, and if you’re not careful you can easily damage the car. So for us, it’s about being smart — pushing where we can, but making sure we get through without breaking anything.”
Day Two Awaits
Tomorrow’s leg shifts the rally into a tougher rhythm, with crews facing a demanding mix of endurance and night driving.
The day opens with the long and decisive Lumo to Langa stage, a punishing 121.30-kilometre run that will test pace, focus and mechanical reliability.
From there, the rally transitions into the night with the Golf to Langa stage over 52.10 kilometres, where visibility and precision become critical.
The day then closes with the Pusa to Block 3 stage, a 44.60-kilometre night run that will push crews to their limits and could significantly reshape the leaderboard.
Top 10 Results After Day One
Piers Daykin / Lloyd Destro (Datsun 280Z) – 02:49:16.1
Carl Tundo / Billy Tundo (Triumph TR7 V8) – 02:55:20.1 (+06:04.0)
Robert Calder / Gavin Laurence (Datsun 280Z) – 02:58:24.1 (+09:08.0)
Farhaaz Khan / Alfir Khan (Porsche 911) – 02:59:50.9 (+10:34.8)
Ian Duncan / Jaspal Matharu (Datsun 280Z) – 02:59:51.3 (+10:35.2)
Rajesh Maini / Devan Bhundia (Datsun 280Z) – 03:12:03.2 (+22:47.1)
Piotr Beaupre / Michal Zoll (Ford Escort Mk 2) – 03:15:10.9 (+25:54.8)
Jonathan Somen / Jaden Somen (Ford Escort Mk 2) – 03:16:32.0 (+27:15.9)
Asad Anwar / Tej Sehmi (Ford Escort Mk 1) – 03:16:40.1 (+27:24.0)
Russell Hughes / Melissa Shepherd (Ford Capri) – 03:23:31.0 (+34:14.9)
