Amaan Ganatra, 17, Wins KNRC Round 1 on Debut at Stoni Athi

CN Quick Facts

Amaan Ganatra and co-driver Mudasar Chaudry won KNRC Round 1 in a Mitsubishi Evo, clocking 01:52:03.1 and also winning the Power Stage
The event was organised by 254 Motorsports Club and sanctioned by the newly reconstituted Motorsport Kenya Federation (MKF)
Entry was free for the season opener, part of MKF’s push to lower barriers to competing this season
The rally covered 166.01km in total, including 146.81km of competitive action across seven special stages
KNRC Round 2 returns to Stoni Athi on the weekend of 19–20 September 2026

Amaan Ganatra, 17, Wins KNRC Round 1 on Debut at Stoni Athi: Full Results and Reaction

A revived Kenya National Rally Championship kicked off its 2026 season at Stoni Athi Grille in Athi River, and it delivered a result nobody saw coming — a 17-year-old debutant beating a field of seasoned regulars to the top step.

What's in this Article

Amaan Ganatra, 17, Wins KNRC Round 1 on Debut at Stoni Athi: Full Results and Reaction
How did the race unfold?
What happened in the other classes?
Why does this matter for Kenyan motorsport?
Key Details
Results
Background
What’s Next?
Conclusion

How did the race unfold?

Ganatra Racing’s Amaan Ganatra, partnered by Mudasar Chaudry on the notes, controlled the rally after taking the lead in the first loop and never relinquished it, crossing the finish in 01:52:03.1 to claim maximum points and the Power Stage bonus on his KNRC debut. “It’s a big relief, the whole team put in a lot of work, and to bring back a good result on my first KNRC event at such a younger age is really a big achievement,” Ganatra said afterward, adding that he adjusted his driving style through the rougher sections of the course.

His closest challenger for much of the day, Neel Gohil in a Mitsubishi Evo 10, retired on the second pass of the Simba speed test with an electrical problem, clearing the way for Javed Lota and co-driver Komaine Yakub to take second overall in a Subaru N10, 5:04.6 behind the winner. Rajveer Singh Thethy and James Mwangi completed the overall podium in a Subaru N12.

What happened in the other classes?

Javed Lota, from Mombasa, also topped the Specially Prepared Vehicles (SPV) class, ahead of SportPesa Racing’s Leonardo Varese and Kigondu Kareithi in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally3, who finished second in class and seventh overall in 02:09:28.7. In Class C1, George Kyriazi and Max Green won in a Ford Escort ahead of Azar Anwar and Azhar Bhatti in a BMW, with Shakeel Khan and Riyaz Ismail completing the class podium in another Ford Escort.

The entry list also featured a mother-and-daughter crew, Caroline Gatimu and Tinashe Gatimu, campaigning a Ford Fiesta Rally4, and Timothy Kinoti of Arkadios Motorsport, who returned to competition in a Toyota RunX rebuilt from the ground up after a demanding 2025 season.

Why does this matter for Kenyan motorsport?

Impact on the championship’s profile: The result gives the newly reconstituted federation a strong opening storyline heading into the season, with a teenage winner and multiple family entries drawing attention to a championship working to rebuild its standing.

Impact on young drivers: SportPesa Racing’s Rising Stars initiative, mentoring young talent including Jason Kareithi and Adriano Varese, and Ganatra’s win itself, point to a generational shift already underway in Kenyan rallying’s junior ranks.

Impact on participation: MKF’s decision to waive entry fees for the season opener, aimed at lowering barriers to competing, appears to have paid off with a strong 20-crew field spanning Group N, 2WD, Classics, and SPV categories.

Key Details

Event: KNRC Round 1, 2026 season
Venue: Stoni Athi Grille, Athi River, Machakos County
Organiser: 254 Motorsports Club, sanctioned by Motorsport Kenya Federation (MKF)
Dates: Recce and scrutineering Friday 31 July; competitive action Saturday 1 August
Distance: 166.01km total; 146.81km competitive across 7 special stages
Entry: Free, waived for the season opener
Field: 20 crews across Group N, 2WD, Classics, and SPV classes

Results

Overall podium:

Amaan Ganatra / Mudasar Chaudry — Mitsubishi Evo — Ganatra Racing — 01:52:03.1
Javed Lota / Komaine Yakub — Subaru N10 — Lota Motorsports — 01:57:07.7 (+05:04.6)
Rajveer Singh Thethy / James Mwangi — Subaru N12 — Rajveer Racing — 01:58:55.6 (+06:52.5)

Class winners:

SPV: Javed Lota / Komaine Yakub
Class C1: George Kyriazi / Max Green — Ford Escort — 02:12:09.1

Background

The event marked the first competitive outing under Motorsport Kenya Federation’s new leadership, with newly elected president Altaf Ganatra saying in a statement that “the real work begins” as the federation focuses on rebuilding its structures for the season ahead. Stoni Athi has become a familiar venue for Kenyan motorsport in recent years, also hosting Shell AutoX events and serving as a test venue for Safari Rally Kenya crews earlier this year ahead of the World Rally Championship round in Naivasha.

What’s Next?

Clerk of the Course Pipi Renu confirmed that KNRC Round 2 will return to Stoni Athi’s stages on the weekend of 19–20 September 2026. CarNews KE will preview the round closer to the date, along with the updated championship standings following Round 1.

Conclusion

A 17-year-old winning on his KNRC debut, in the newly reconstituted federation’s first event of the season, is about as strong a season-opening storyline as Kenyan rallying could have hoped for. With Round 2 confirmed for the same venue in September, it’s worth watching whether Ganatra can back up this result or whether the more experienced crews close the gap once they’ve had a full round to adjust.