KNRC Division Two leader believes more scintillating top 10 displays
It is still early days into the 2020 season, but current Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) Division Two leader Evans Kavisi is already savouring top form.
With the first two rounds of the eight-leg series done and dusted, Kavisi is nevertheless promising more scintillating displays behind the wheel of a Subaru Impreza N10, previously driven by Phineas Kimathi and Farhaaz Khan.
Adrenaline, mud, dust, the smell of fuel, pain, and the sweltering heat are some of the facets of the “man and machine” game that define his passion for the sport.
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“At the stage we are in, our focus is consistency more so with two top 10 finishes thus far. Our aim is a clean drive, and of course to bring the car home in one piece and a trophy to boot,” Kavisi said.
“It’s too early in the season to draw Division One battle lines. We will definitely give it our best shot and wait to see how the season clarifies the battles,” he added.
Asked about how it felt like clinching his career best KNRC top 10 in Stoni Athi and repeating the same in the Nyahururu Rally, Kavisi stated: “It was a fantastic season opener for us, especially coming from the last season where the last two rallies didn’t go our way.
We were elated to clinch seventh overall at Guru Nanak, having acquired a new car (Subaru Impreza N10) and such a result was reassuring that we made the right choice.”
Unpredictable rally
“We approached the event with caution since it was our first time with the car.
We were fortunate not to get any punctures on Guru Nanak but suffered some overheating problems with the tall grass being caught in our grill, blocking air supply to the radiator.
Recording a finish in the car was our first goal and we backed off especially on the last two stages and were fortunate to come out of it.
All in all, it was a good event for us,” said Kavisi, who is navigated by Absalom Aswani.
And how his new machine has taken his racing career to the next level, Kavisi explained: “It gives us a fighting chance this year and I can’t wait to see how it pans out.
That being said, motorsport is a fickle mistress and no amount of planning can assure you of results.
You just have to do your best and hope lady luck is on your side. There are a lot of good drivers with good cars this year and with the WRC back, it will be very interesting to see what happens.”
With an apparently insatiable appetite for success, Kavisi’s adrenaline rush brings him back to the cockpit time and time again.
He is one of the few black indigenous drivers alongside the likes of Eric Bengi and Issa Anwari (both KNRC premier class drivers) now calling the shots.
Kavisi, who started rallying in 2018. He had, however, started actively participating in the sport in 2006.
“I don’t think anyone can give a straight answer on why rallying. I however, believe everyone in this sport is a closet adrenaline junkie. You can’t imagine living without it. Its the adrenaline, the mud, the dust, the smell of fuel, the pain, the sweltering heat in the car.”
“I can’t describe what it feels like. I grew up watching and following the old days of rallying and a story is given by my mother that back in 1994, I suffered a panic attack from excitement when I witnessed a rally car being repaired on the roadside, just meters from me.
