Kenyan motorsport is roaring back to life this weekend as the Tai Racing/Shell 2025 Autocross and Autocross Plus Championship Round Five heads to the scenic Stoni Athi Resort & Ranch on September 6–7.
For the first time in more than a decade, the event has attracted over 50 competitors — a clear sign of revival for a sport that was left reeling after regulatory wrangles in 2024.
The newly registered 254 Motorsports Club has been credited with sparking this resurgence. With renewed energy, lowered participation costs, and a fresh grassroots approach, the club has brought both veterans and the next generation of drivers back to the dirt tracks.
Among the exciting new faces are Michuki Hinga, son of rally veteran Charles Hinga, Adriano Varese, son of Leonardo Varese, and the Chatthe brothers’ sons, continuing the legacy of champion Jassi Chatthe. These youngsters are already showing promise, proving that the future of Kenyan rallying is in capable hands.
The entry list also features some of the country’s biggest names. Karan Patel and Nikhil Sachania, both flying the Kenyan flag on the international stage in the African Rally Championship (ARC), are set to compete. Motorsport icons Baldev Chagger, Asad Anwar, and Eric Bengi are also returning to action, while FIA Stars Champion Hamza Anwar is gearing up to kick up some dust of his own.
Unlike past editions that capped entries at 40, this year’s organisers are opening the field wide. According to Clerk of the Course (COC) Muqsit Hussain, the two-day format and the venue’s proximity to Nairobi make it possible to welcome as many participants as possible.
“We are happy to host such a strong entry list this time around,” Hussain said. “The club had a vision to revive motorsport from its near standstill in 2024. To achieve that, we had to get drivers and cars back on track. We introduced longer, rally-style stages as part of our grassroots initiative, which has been very well received, and we made sure to cut costs so every shilling went back into the sport.”
The results are undeniable. With the backing of sponsors including Shell, Tai Racing, CFAO, JCB Ganatra, Go Sport, and others, the event has recorded a historic number of entries. Hussain says this is just the beginning:
“This is a rebirth for Kenyan motorsport. We are hopeful that with continued growth, a new federation — Motorsport Kenya — will soon be registered, paving the way for even greater development locally.”
With a mix of seasoned champions, young blood, and a passionate organising team, the Stoni Athi showdown promises thrilling action and a powerful reminder that Kenyan motorsport is back on track — and stronger than ever.
Shell 2025 Autox & Autox Plus Championship by254 Motorsports Club (Top 3)
4WD TURBO RESTRICTED: 1. Harpreet Singh Bhogal 67, 2. Amaan Ganatra 61, 3. Abdulkadir Tarmal 30
OPEN CLASS: 1. Neel Gohil 61, 2. Shaz Esmail 55, 3. Ankush Shah 39
4WD NON TURBO CARS: 1. Jose Sardinha 42, 2. Chirag Soni 20, 3. Abid Ganatra 17
2WD TURBO CARS: 1. Suleiman Munyua 40
2WD NON TURBO CARS: 1. Altaf Ganatra 80, 2. Jose Sardinha 51, 3. Tariq Rashid 59
QUAD: 1. Shabaz Anwar 82, 2. Wayne Fernandes 17
2WD NON TURBO BUGGY: 1. Muaz Adil 57, 2. Fahim Abdulmalik 34, 3. Ibrahim Mughal 22
2WD TURBO BUGGY: 1. Harpreet Singh Bhogal 83, 2. Abdul Tariq Rashid 63, 3. Ian Duncan 29
CADET JUNIOR BUGGY: 1. Cheche Ababu 76, 2. Eaan Bengi 61, 3. Karamveer Singh Rooprai 46
BETA JUNIOR BUGGY: 1. Allan Bengi, 2. Muzzakkiz Imran Mohamed 17
ALPHA JUNIOR BUGGY: 1. Sean Njumbi 81
