Tundo ready to beat top professional drivers with his new Ford Fiesta

As top professional drivers parade their highly charged and modified factory machines, former champion Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo is ready to beat them in his new Ford Fiesta when World Rally Championships (WRC) Safari Rally begins on Thursday.

Tundo said he’s ready to give them a run for their money this time round.

Although Tundo had earlier won the rally four times when it was not a WRC-sanctioned event, he said he’s determined to end the drought.

Asked if this year's car will be the same one he used last year, he said; “It is the same make and model."

“The car has just arrived from Zambia and the team is getting it ready for the tough event as we speak. For sure, it was ready for testing by last weekend as we get ready to win the event,” Tundo told Standard Sports.

After Safari Rally returned to the WRC status, the main rivalry within the manufacturing companies in one of the roughest and toughest.

And this year, it will not be any different, but Tundo is not worried about that.

“I’m ready and can’t wait,” he said.

As has been the tradition when the rally is around the corner, Tundo appealed to his fans and the public to come out and cheer the local drivers.

“My fans need to come out in large numbers and cheer the local drivers as has been always. Enjoy the atmosphere and spectacle of a WRC at our doorstep,” he said.

Tundo, who’s sponsored by Betika, will be driving his Ford Fiesta R5 together with his longtime ally and co-driver Tim Jessop.

He said it’ll be nice to win the Masters Cup and the Africa Rally Championships (ARC) besides the Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC), which will be competed in at the WRC Safari Rally.

“It would be nice to win the Masters Cup, the ARC and KNRC again at WRC Safari Rally. We have won KNRC three years in a row,” he said.

The event will be flagged off on Thursday at Nairobi’s City Hall Way, but Tundo said Friday will be the most difficult day for all drivers with the introduction of the new section and the Kedong stage.

“With the introduction of new sections in the rally routes and Kedong’, all to be competed for on the same day, Friday will be the hardest day for all drivers in the chase for top honours,” he said.