Blomqvist leads strong field
East African Safari Classic Rally manager Pipi Renu (centre) poses for a photo with drivers Rajech Maini (left) and Devan Bhundia on November, 3, 2017 in Nairobi during seeding of drivers. The rally will be held in Kenya and Tanzania from November 23 to December. PHOTO | MARTIN MUKANGU |
What you need to know:
- Defending champion Stig Blomqvist will lead a star studded cast of 36 drivers, most of whom are foreign, in the eighth edition of Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally later this month.
- The nine-day event which normally attracts a huge audience, will start at Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa on November 23.
- Thereafter, the cars will navigate through 24 stages consisting contrasting terrain totalling 4,000km, through Kenya’s South Coast, Amboseli and Ol Tukai Lodge, before briefly heading into Tanzania and back to Nairobi.
Defending champion Stig Blomqvist will lead a star studded cast of 36 drivers, most of whom are foreign, in the eighth edition of Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally later this month.
The nine-day event which normally attracts a huge audience, will start at Sarova Whitesands Hotel in Mombasa on November 23.
Thereafter, the cars will navigate through 24 stages consisting contrasting terrain totalling 4,000km, through Kenya’s South Coast, Amboseli and Ol Tukai Lodge, before briefly heading into Tanzania and back to Nairobi.
“The safety aspect in Uganda is still a genuine concern for both our drivers and spectators. Again, that’s why we have stayed away, hopefully not for long,” the Event’s General Manager Pipi Renu explained.
Blomqvist, fondly referred to as ‘the Flying Swede’ was yesterday placed top in the seedings released by organisers in Nairobi.
Also in the loop is Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo who will be eyeing his first ever championship in this competition. He is seeded second, with Baldev Chager taking off third, while Ian Duncan who has trained his sights on a third title here, placed fourth.South African Geof Bell, who will be using a Datsun 260Z, is seeded fifth. He will be navigated by Kenyan Timothy Challen.
The two will be followed out by Ford Escort RS Argentine driver Jorge Perez Companc, Briton Richard Jackson in a Tuthil Porsche, and Frenchman Piulippe Gache, in that order.
This event has in the meantime attracted a stable partner base led by title sponsors Kenya Airways.
“In the business perspective, the East African Classic Rally gives us the opportunity to showcase the country as a tourist destination as we receive both local and international tourists, tying it with one of our core businesses of ensuring a sustainable development in Kenya and Africa,” Kenya Airways Head of Marketing Jacquie Muhati explained on Friday.
Safaricom, Internet Solutions, Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), Vipingo Ridge and Copy Cat Group are the other partners.
The organizers have also included some tweaks to rally regulations, including allowing power steering on the grounds of comfort and safety, while the cut-off age for cars allowed to participate has been stretched to 1895.
