Stoni Athi delivered a high-octane weekend of speed, dust and adrenaline as drivers pushed themselves and their machines to the limit during Round Five of the 2026 Shell Autocross Rally Championship.
Held at Stoni Athi in Machakos County, the action-packed round brought together drivers and navigators for a demanding test of speed, precision, consistency and machine control, with competitors battling for valuable points as the seven-leg championship entered another crucial phase.
The event, organised by 254 Motorsports Club, lived up to expectations, with the challenging Stoni Athi terrain providing a stern examination of both drivers and their machinery. After two days of intense competition, Michuki Hinga and his navigator Dennis Yaya emerged as the standout performers in the 2WD Non-Turbo Senior Car category, securing victory in a time of 10:39 minutes.
Hinga’s victory capped a strong weekend for the Shell-supported driver, who had highlighted preparation and consistency as key factors ahead of the event. The demanding conditions at Stoni Athi required competitors to strike a delicate balance between outright speed and maintaining control throughout the stages.
Ankush Shah claimed the honours in the 4WD Turbo Car Restricted category, completing his run in 09:41 minutes, while Eann Bengi took victory in the Cadet Junior 2WD Non-Turbo Buggy category in 10:43 minutes.
The results underlined the depth of competition across the different classes, with drivers battling not only their rivals but also the demanding surface and conditions presented by the Stoni Athi course.
For Shell, the event was another opportunity to strengthen its connection with Kenya’s growing motorsport community. Vivo Energy Kenya, through its Shell brand, is the title sponsor of the seven-leg 2026 AutoX Rally Championship, which runs from February through November.
The partnership is in its second year, following Shell’s successful title sponsorship of the championship in 2025, and continues to link the brand’s international motorsport heritage with Kenya’s local racing scene.
Speaking to the media, Vivo Energy Kenya Marketing Manager Joanne Nyaga said the partnership goes beyond brand visibility, with a strong focus on celebrating performance, developing local talent and creating memorable experiences for motorsport fans.
“Shell’s continued partnership with Autocross is about more than putting our name on a championship. It is about celebrating performance, supporting Kenyan motorsport talent and creating memorable experiences for the fans who make this sport what it is. This fifth edition of Autocross provides another opportunity to bring the Shell performance story to life while supporting the people and passion driving motorsport in Kenya,” Nyaga said.
The Stoni Athi round also provided a platform for drivers, navigators, mechanics and teams to showcase the technical expertise required to compete at the highest level of autocross. With every stage placing demands on vehicle preparation, concentration and driving ability, the competition offered a reminder that success in motorsport is built long before a car reaches the starting line.
For Hinga and Yaya, however, the weekend ended on the highest note, with their victory adding another significant result to their 2026 campaign.
With Round Five now complete, attention shifts to the remaining rounds of the championship, as competitors look to build momentum and position themselves strongly ahead of the season finale in November. The Stoni Athi showdown has once again demonstrated the growing appeal of autocross in Kenya, combining competition, technical skill and entertainment in a championship that continues to attract drivers and motorsport enthusiasts
