KNRC: Peter Horsey Guru Nanak Rally summary

Horsey ends a busy season by leading at home

Mombasa based Peter Horsey capped off a busy season of rallying around the world by leading the recent Guru Nanak Rally, the final round of the Kenyan National Rally Championship, before being forced to retire with damaged suspension on his Mitsubishi Evo 9.

Peter flew straight to Nairobi after completing the sixth and final round of his Pirelli Star Drive campaign, the Wales Rally GB, where he set some strong stage times en-route to 38th overall. Peter was in a confident frame of mind after conducting the recce around the Whistling Thorns area 50 kilometers south-west of Nairobi. This confidence was justified when the 27 year old powered his Mitsubishi Evo 9 through the opening 30 kilometre test 8 seconds faster than any of his rivals to lead a round of the Kenyan Championship for the first time in his career! An equally strong time on the second stage of the rally meant that Peter maintained his lead heading to the 42 kilometre long third test. This test would see Horsey retire from the event in dramatic fashion when he clipped a culvert and damaged both the steering and suspension, ending his strong run immediately!

I am very disappointed to end my season like this! It shows how quickly your fortunes can change in this sport. After the first stage I was leading my first ever Kenyan National Rally Championship event and two stages later we very spectators! At least I have proved that I have the pace and this is thanks in no small part to my season in the Pirelli Star Driver scheme! It has been an incredible year and now I intend to build on it in 2011.

Peter ends an enormous year, where he has contested 15 rallies around the world, led events and won a number of special stages and will now turn his focus towards 2011. The team are at an advanced stage of negotiations with an exciting new sponsor and an announcement will be made early in the new year.

-source: peterhorsey.com