POISONED QUAGMIRE

Last season's incorporation of coefficient penalties into the . National Competition Rules (NCRs) continues to draw behind the scenes reactions in relation to stage timings.
Ian Duncan has staunchly resisted the enforcement of the new rule, because his massive Toyota Hilux Turbo pickup is subjected to a 4 per cent penalty for not conforming to FIA homologation regulations. Coefficient penalties are percentage deductions competitors are handed on their cumulative stage timings for not conforming to FIA and manufacturers specifications.
Seething with rage after months of soul searching, Duncan is accusing the Kenya Motor Sports Limited's (KMSL) Rallies Commission of introducing the rure to gratify FIA "and to target his proven rallying performance".
But Rallies Commission boss Vic Preston Junior begs to differ. He reckons that KMSL is obliged to FIA rules as it is the only way to win back Safari Rally's lost world status.
"Duncan's car has Bigger tyres and engine and hence more boost as far as power output is concerned," he says.
Much as local rallying chiefs refuse to be flustered with the issue, Duncan opines that Safari Rally will never ever return to the 16­round World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit "for the simple reason that FIA is only interested in making a quick buck from its affiliate countries."
For instance, Duncan castigates FIA's recent decision to levy a 100,000 Euros bidding rights fee without as much as guarantee to members wishing to bid for WRC candidature.
Safari Rally was elevated to world status in 1973 when Shekhar Mehta migrated from Uganda to Kenya and crowned his first appearance with victory. But the local fraternity was reeling in shock when FIA dropped the Kenyan round from the calendar, when necessary guarantees were not fulfilled by the Kenyan government ahd local organisers.

Duncan believes his aspirations for the 2006 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) are as good as doomed- for as long as the rule remains in force.
"A rule can simply be appropriate only if it can allow all drivers equal opportunities to win races," he says. Since the introduction of handicap penalties, his 4.5L engine machine has managed some of the fastest stage times but the ace driver has had to contend with playing second fiddle to fellow frontrunners by dropping two or three places behind on the leader board.
For instance, he had won the Eldoret Rally by a 2- minute margin from eventual winner Azar Anwar only to drop to fourth overall much to his chagrin.
The rule was introduced by KMSL last season supposedly to create a level playing field and a cheaper formula of rallying as well.
"We are under the obligation of the global body to even up the playing field which I think is a step in the right direction. It's only an open secret that some cars are exceedingly powerful and can't compete with the rest on an equal footing," Vic Preston, a former Kenyan champion and veteran of the old type Safari, goes on.
The 2005 Formula Two champion Deep Chana also concurs with Duncan's sentiments- that the rule should be scrapped because the country can do tremendously well without FIA rules.
"All we need to do is to have our own constructive rules that will suit the local conditions and status. We should also attract as many sponsors as possible and bring back the crowds into rallying. That's a better option rather than going by meaningless FIA rules."
Deep believes its high time local drivers raced on a somewhat cheaper budget rather than adhering to rules that will only