EAST AFRICAN MINI CLASSIC SAFARI RALLY ROARS

 

As the world has its eyes on the ongoing FIFA World Cup in Qatar, their eyes have missed out on a motorsports event that is unique in its very own way.

The East African Safari Classic is a rally that sees cars made before 1985, with no Turbo and are 2WD take on 5,000km of the world’s toughest terrains. The race itself has no reconnaissance runs and the pace-notes are provided for by the organizers as well as GPS mapping on the route. The Rally is also run-on open roads where being in Kenya you are up for anything, wildlife, motorbikes, trucks, herds of cattle and a lot of human traffic.

All these just add on to the difficulty of the rally that the weather is unpredictable and the rallying surfaces are very tough.

The Mini-Classic rally is all these things put together but for a 1,000km stretch that is undertaken in three days. This rally acts as a curtain raiser for the main 5,000km race.

This year 32 cars were flagged off in Nakuru; 1 Mitsubishi Pajero, 1 Range Rover, 1 Triumph TR7, 1 BMW 535, 1 Toyota Levine, 1 VW Golf MK1, 1 Mercedes 500 SLC, 1 Datsun PA 10, 1 Datsun 180B, 1 Datsun 160J, 1 Datsun Violet GT, 4 Datsun 1600 SSS, 5 Datsun 280Z, 1 Ford Escort, 3 Ford Escort MK 2, 3 Ford Escort MK 1 and, 5 Porsche 911.

The first driver to be flagged off was 2-time champion Baldev Chager navigated by Gareth Dawe in a Porsche 911. Most who were following the rally felt that Boldy, as he is popularly known was going to make it 3-in-a row and he started well just as he stays just within striking distance. Piers Daykin in a Datsun 280Z was one of the favorites to win the event also having won it as a Navigator.

Dutchman Remon Vos in a Porsche 911 was in his second ever rally in the country but found himself within striking distance after Day one’s action. He was also joined by Kenyan driver Raaji Bharij in a Ford Escort MK 1 in what was a rally that saw leads being exchanged every now and then.

The Rally heading into the final day had seen Raj get a 5-minute penalty for taking a bridge instead of a river crossing that got him off position 2 down to three.

In familiar fashion the rally struck with the top two drivers Boldy and Daykin both getting disqualified after they both deviated from the defined rally route.

This meant that Vos who was seated in third climbed up to first and only racing Raj who felt the final day was not suited to his ford.

"Really fun Rally, incredibly hard on the body and on the cars. It's been nice to comeback to Eldoret and do some different roads coz it's just nice to come to a new place. It's been extremely challenging. We did our best, we lagged day one and day 2 and then we got a penalty yesterday that dropped us back. But I don't think it would have made a difference today was very much suited to the bigger cars so will come back and try and make it a Ford win. But it didn't work this time." Raaji Bharij said.

Vos held on to claim top honors after covering the 1000KM of rallying in 8 hours 36 minutes and 52 seconds after which he sung songs of praise to hi Navigator Stephane Prevot.

"Obvious Stephon is a professional navigator, he's been doing this event for many many years. But yes indeed, so it's, even today on the second stage we turned right and I asked Stephon are you sure because I was not sure myself. He said trust me and we were on the right track. Other cars went straight ahead and they missed the right turn and then it's difficult to find the road back." Remon Vos said.

Of the 32 Crews that started the race 15 raced to the end of what was a true test of man and machine on the great East African Rift Valley.

A majority of these drivers were using he Mini-Classic to tune up their cars and get a taste of the 2023 East African Safari Classic Rally that will see them do 5,000 kilometers in 9 days.