Defending champion Piers Daykin began his Equatorial Rally title defense in impressive fashion, establishing himself as the frontrunner on Day One of the event’s second edition.
The Rocca Rally duo, with Lloyd Destro navigating, quickly took command of the competition, piloting their Datsun 280Z to an overnight cumulative time of 2:49:16.1.
The competition commenced with a ceremonial flag-off at Mwatunge Grounds in Mwatate, officiated by Taita Taveta Governor Andrew Mwadime, along with County Executive Committee Member for Sports Shadrack Mutungi and other distinguished guests.
During the initial stage from Block 11 to Block 8 Camp, Daykin and Destro established the standard time, completing it in 46:30.
Rally veteran Ian Duncan, accompanied by navigator Jaspal Matharu in a comparable vehicle, secured second place with a steady performance, followed by Carl Tundo and his son Billy in their Triumph TR7 V8.
This strong performance continued into the second stage, a challenging 85.85-kilometre route from Latika to Langa, where Daykin and Destro further solidified their lead.
Another impressive run resulted in a time of 1:11:27.9, giving them consecutive stage wins.
Robert Calder and Gavin Laurence, also competing in a Datsun 280Z, produced a reliable performance to finish second, trailing by 2 minutes and 48.4 seconds.
The Tundo pair maintained their position at the front of the competition.
As the penultimate stage approached, mounting pressure from competitors didn’t deter Daykin and Destro, who set the pace with a time of 51:18.1, demonstrating their continued superiority.
In this stage, Carl and Billy Tundo delivered one of their best performances of the day, pushing their Triumph TR7 V8 to secure second place, only 1 minute and 18.7 seconds behind the leaders.
Ian Duncan and Jaspal Matharu rounded out the top three, remaining within contention for the overall title as the rally prepared to move to Day Two.
When discussing his strategy, Daykin explained his adaptation of driving techniques to match the demanding course conditions.
I’ve modified my driving style specifically for this rally, he stated. I’m avoiding unnecessary risks on the difficult sections, concentrating on maintaining a clean and consistent approach, which appears to be more effective for our team.
He noted that navigating through traffic on the narrow mountain roads presented one of the day’s greatest difficulties.
Motorcycles, in particular, have limited space to maneuver, creating challenging situations. My primary focus is straightforward: to complete the course. That’s been my mindset throughout the day, and finishing today without incident already feels like a significant achievement.
Governor Mwadime emphasized that the rally represents more than just a motorsport competition, noting its role in rebuilding the county’s reputation and fostering community cohesion.
The county is benefiting significantly, particularly as we work to restore Taita Taveta’s former standing and reputation, he explained.
He further suggested that future events should incorporate greater local cultural elements.
For future rallies, we should feature Mazindika, our traditional dance, to help community members feel directly connected to the event.
Challenges on the Course
Not all competitors experienced trouble-free racing.
The Datsun Violet GT driven by Angelo Perez-Riemer and Konstantin Mastalka (Car 21) encountered technical problems preventing them from starting the morning stage, resulting in a lateness penalty based on the slowest stage time plus an additional hour.
Similarly, Shakeel Khan and navigator Assad “Bones” Mughal in their Ford Escort Mk 1 (Car 6) were unable to begin the second stage due to a fuel leak, forcing them to pause while addressing the mechanical issue before continuing.
Mukesh Jani and Shameer Yusuf (Car 31) also exited the competition prematurely after colliding with a pole during the third stage.
Tundo Commends Son Billy
Beyond the competitive aspect, the day held special significance for Carl Tundo as he mentored his son Billy through his first major rally experience.
Billy performed exceptionally well today, particularly impressive for his first significant rally, Tundo remarked. The pace notes present challenges, but he’s managed them effectively, which has allowed me to increase our competitive pace.
He explained their constant communication throughout each stage helped Billy adapt to the competitive rhythm.
Developing mutual understanding is crucial, he acknowledged, while noting the demanding conditions had affected both drivers.
The courses have been particularly challenging, with the second stage especially rough, resulting in some impacts to my elbow. Nevertheless, I’m extremely proud of how Billy has conducted himself throughout the day.
Calder Maintains Consistent Approach
Robert Calder, who finished the day in third position overall, emphasized that mechanical reliability was equally important as raw speed.
I’m satisfied to complete the first day, he stated. We experienced some overheating during the initial stage, but we successfully addressed the issue, and the car performed well afterward.
Calder recognized the difficulty of competing against the pace established by Daykin.
Competing against a driver of Piers’ caliber is never straightforward, but we’ll continue to push and observe how the competition develops.
He further highlighted that navigating the difficult terrain successfully would be critical to their chances.
The courses are demanding, with particularly rocky and uneven sections in places where vehicle damage can occur if not approached carefully. Therefore, our strategy involves calculated aggressionpushing when advantageous while ensuring we complete the stages without mechanical failures.
Looking Ahead to Day Two
The second day of the rally introduces increased challenges, featuring a combination of endurance testing and night driving conditions.
The competition begins with the significant Lumo to Langa stage, an arduous 121.30-kilometre stretch that will examine speed, concentration, and mechanical dependability.
Following this, the rally moves into nighttime conditions with the Golf to Langa stage covering 52.10 kilometres, where visibility and exact navigation become paramount.
The day concludes with the Pusa to Block 3 stage, a 44.60-kilometre night course that will challenge competitors to their utmost capacity and potentially alter the standings dramatically.
Final Standings 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)