: : Welcome to EAST AFRICAN PORTLAND CEMENT

3.00 pm, Friday 6^th November 2009 and the Coastal City of Mombasa popularly known as “Mombasa Raha” was set ablaze by the sound of the straight exhaust performance systems that could only come from turbo charged road hounds revving for glory in the KCB S & L Rally which was to be the last installment on 2009 KNRC Championship.

The S & L rally took place at the world famous Vipingo Golf Course, presenting a picturesque backdrop for two days of performance driving. The Mombasa Rally presented a unique set of challenges for the competing teams i.e. high humidity, blistering heat, tight - fast and narrow roads which set it up to be one of the most unforgiving rallies on the 2009 calendar.

It is to be remembered that during the 2008 Mombasa rally 5 cars rolled on the same corner. The corner also managed to claim the OCS’s car as they were rushing to the scene to assist some of the crews who had rolled their vehicles quite badly.

This being said, the Mombasa rally was gearing up to be a spectacular outing for the 44 teams that had turned up in search of victory.

After the ceremonial start at KCB new town branch on Meru Road in Mombasa town, the vehicles moved to an overnight parc ferme (a parc ferme is a large closed park where race cars can be stored overnight while preventing unauthorized access) awaiting full competition on Saturday 7^th November.

For once in the 2009 rally calendar the ruling Mitsubishi Evo seemed ready to relinquish its title as King of the Hill, with over 15 Subaru entrants this was going to be the Evo’s toughest fight especially with Baldev “Boldy” Chager leading the pack with his Subaru Impreza WRC N12 STI.

Speaking to us before the start of competition proper Boldy Chager had this to say

“We look forward to the rally especially now that we are the lead car on track. This assures us that the road conditions will be as they were during the recce therefore enabling us to push the car to the maximum”.

Boldy went forward to add “the Evo’s have been quite strong this season but it is time to set things back in their natural order – with Subaru taking the top spot on the podium”.

Carl “the flash” Tundo who had already clinched the 2009 Championship at the Guru Nanak rally was out in 2^nd aiming to prove that he was still the man to beat out on track. Lee Rose who was making his 2^nd outing after getting the Wladoil ® sponsorship was also going all out for the win.

After a spectacular start Baldev Chager suffered a slight problem with his intercooler forcing him to ease off the pace and bring the car to service in one piece. This setback enabled the Evo’s of Lee Rose and Carl Tundo to pass and from then on it was a three horse race towards the victory flag. In the end Lee Rose and his navigator Des Page Morris cruised to victory in a time of 1hr 26 mins 59 seconds. Carl Tundo came in a close second with Baldev Chager coming in third.

Alex Horsey charges through the spectator stage at the Vipingo Golf Club

Jasmeet Chana reclaimed the two wheel drive title he won last season after coming home third in the Formula Two class. Chana was clearly jubilant at the outstanding performance. Jasmeet said that they were looking forward to saying goodbye to the 2wd and getting into a much bigger car next season.

The Yamakasi Rally team’s Said Hamed became the new Division Three champion despite a tough challenge from Kirit Rajput who finished 10th overall. Hemed, navigated by Victor Okundi, completed 14th overall.

OVERALL 2009 KENYA NATIONAL RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP STANDINGS
Position	Drivers	Total
1	Carl Tundo	440
2	Lee Rose	335
3	Ian Duncan	305
4	Azar Anwar	270
5	Alastair Cavenaugh	215
6	Baldev Chager	215

EAPCC’s GOLDEN BOY

Our Marketing Officer has frequently called upon us to take up the challenge and become self proclaimed BRAND AMBASSADORS. EAPCC is fortunate to have George “Thunder” Mwangi. The 2006 Safari Rally winning navigator remains as the most sterling example of EAPCC’s total Corporate and Brand ambassador.

Throughout the year George has not only flown the EAPCC flag high but has continued to influence other rally teams and fans to acknowledge the 3 in 1 strength of Blue Triangle Cement. Through his personalized contribution George has played a significant role in ensuring that the 2009 rally calendar remains an EAPCC/ BLUE TRIANGLE CEMENT ® affair and has influenced other rally teams to join the bandwagon.

Our Ambassadors – The Version 6 rally team Hussein Malik (driving) and George Kiama give Blue Triangle Cement a big THUMBS UP!!