Kenya’s special place in Waldergaard’s heart

Kenya ranks up there when Bjorn Waldegaard has to pick his best rally in a career that spans over four decades of high level rallying across the globe. “The good people of Kenya and the beautiful country have always driven my desire to do more Safari rallies than ever.

The people are wonderful and the country is great,’’ said the World Rally legend when talking exclusively to the Nation at the Amboseli National Park on Saturday. “When Iqbal asked me to drive his car in the Classic this year, it was not him but the thought of coming back to Kenya to do my favourite rally was the reason behind accepting the offer.’’

“Safari Rally is very different from the rest of the other rallies in the world. I have had many victories in many rallies in the world but nothing beats the feeling of winning the Safari Rally and being with the people of Kenya,’’ says Waldegaard.

“The fun and thrill of rallying ever since I was a young boy, is something that drives my motivation to stay in touch with the sport. Otherwise at my age, I would be resting elsewhere. Motor sports is a like a drug that never wants to live your body.

I have a dream to do the E.A. Safari Rally when I am 70 in four years time. I want to come here not as a retired pensioner, but to try and fight to win it.” Waldegaard is five minutes adrift of Ian Duncan’s lead in the 2009 KQ Classic Rally with cars now moving to the Naivasha base.

The Swede says it will be historic if Duncan can win the rally without a single major problem such as a puncture in a rally as long as 4500kms long. “For this rally, I have had my puncture and problems. I would be very surprised if one wins a 4500km rally without problems. It would be historic.”

Waldegaard was referring to Ian Duncan’s performance which has reached to this stage without major hi-cups. Waldegaard regards Duncan has a fantastic driver and good mechanic having put lots of work the Ford Mustang which has done surprisingly well. Driving Ford Escort RS models, Waldegaard won three of the world’s most punishing rallies in 1977; the East African Safari Rally, the Acropolis Rally, and the RAC Rally.

He was later victor in the inaugural World Rally Championship series in 1979 for Ford and Mercedes-Benz, beating Hannu Mikkola in the final round at the Rallye Côte d’Ivoire in the Ivory Coast, by finishing second behind his rival. He made his rally 1962 before winning the Swedish Rally Championship in 1967 and ‘68, continued to compete at the top level until 1992 when a broken arm suffered during a crash in the 1992 Safari Rally forced his retirement.