Flying Duncan stays on top

• Former Safari champ still in the lead as cars end third day of 2009 race in Arusha

Ian Duncan maintained his status as leader of the 2009 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally after cars reported at the end of the third day of action on the Tanzanian sector.

The former Safari Rally winner showed no signs of pressure since taking the lead on day two. His Good Year-sponsored Ford Mustang was quickest through all the three stages of the third day to move further away from his nearest challengers on the leader board. His lead has opened up from five seconds to over two minutes.

“I don’t know whether it’s the car or us feeling shaky and old. We need to look at the suspensions, otherwise we are happy with our performance,’’ said Duncan after checking in at the Ngurudoto time Control.

Bjorn Waldegaard, who was the next driver to check in said he was happy with the day’s performance though the stages were long and rough.

“I am now settling down with my navigator and things are working well for us and the car. We are happy with our performance,’’ said the defending champion.

Meanwhile, disaster struck the South African team with two of its cars being forced out of the rally due to accidents.

Wayne Kieswetter and his co-driver Steve Harris were the first casualties of the event after they rolled their Datsun 180B in the second stage.

Kieswetter is suspected to have sustained an injury to the left shoulder. Roddy Sachs and his Kenyan navigator, Denis Mathews, were soon to destroy their Datsun 180B in the following stage.

Though Sachs was said to be okay, his navigator was reported to have complained of chest pains. The official medical team was flown to the scene of the accident for immediate evacuation.

Macy’s chances faded

A South African private jet belonging to Kieswetter and carrying a personal doctor was expected to land at the Kilimanjaro Airport to pick the injured.

The “old guard” Waldegaard has so far driven steadily since securing second place four days ago driving a Porsche.

Englishman Steve Perez has climbed to third place driving a Datsun 260Z. This comes on the heels of having set quickest stage times through the world famous Taita Hill section.

World Rally Championship navigator, Denis Giraudet, who is in Car No29 with Hardev Singh Sira driving a Ford Escort Mk 1, could not hide his delight after successfully completing the Taita Hills stage.

“The stage is historic and monumental in terms of the image of the Safari Rally. I never got the chance to do it in my previous Safari rallies with Armin Schwarz and Didier Auriol. It is a rally stage known all over the world and I feel proud to have done it finally.”