By Feverpitch Reporter
Driving a Platz Hybrid pickup car, the JCB-Ganatra Team driver cleared the ground on the expansive and picturesque Delamere Estates’ Soysambu Ranch to win the Rift Valley Motor & Sports Club (RVM&SC) organised Cross Country Rally Raid Three.
He clocked 3.34.37 hours to win both the overall time and the car category honours.
On Saturday, Sharpe drove a fault free rally and amassed a massive 21 minutes lead from Ian Duncan who swapped seats with his nephew Andrew Pleasance on the second day.
The Duncan-Pleasance crew finished second. The bikes class was won by Ross Field, while Joe Boulanger won the quads class.
This was Sharpe’s second win of the season, following his first victory in Ol-Doiny Lemboro where he tackled all sorts of obstacles from forest stretches, water sections to river crossings, which he said was equally enjoyable.
After the win, Sharpe, who is sponsored by JCB country agents Ganatra Plant and Equipment Limited said he will be thrilling the crowds yet again during the 60th Anniversary of the KCB Safari Rally slated for Kajiado on June 8-10.
Sharpe’s partner Crispin Kennedy did a splendid job in navigation — which together with speed and endurance — were the key aspects of Raid Rally success.
extremely challenging
“It was an extremely challenging event and I’m happy to have won it on my very first attempt on this course. It was rough, full of water in some sections, fantastic river crossings and every sort of terrain one would think of. I shall be using the same car in the KCB Safari, the next Cross-Country as well as in KCB Guru Nanak later in the year,” said Sharpe.
Defending Car Champion Nish Lakhani rued being outside the podium.
“Sharpe’s car is work of art and labour of love,” said Lakhani, who missed out on a podium slot after bashing the shock mounting on Saturday’s leg one.
“We started off with a bogey time after breaking the suspension mounting and completed the strenuous 130km run for Day Two which was really exhilarating especially on its forest section,” said Lakhani who was navigated by Neil Aggrawal.
Bike champion Shivam Vinayak, in his Yamaha 250cc bike and Moses Mugo in a buggy retired in an event where there were no buggy finishers incidentally.
All of them- Chris Outram, Terjas Hirani (Magi-Bug), Chris Young, Ricky Brendon and Kailesh Chouhan retired in their buggies.
Vinayak said: “It was a fantastic event, one of the most scenic routes I have ever ridden on! I had a successful day one. Day Two was going well but ended midway through with bike trouble. It was a disappointing end but I hope to bounce back to defend my title!”
Vincent Boulanger a top quad contender also retired in the first section of Day Two after breaking the steering rack of his Can-Am quad.
