By FP Writer

Rally fans were treated to a rare spectacle as contestants in this year’s Kenya Airways East African Classic Safari Rally arrived for a rest in Naivasha on Saturday.

Thousands of spectators lined up the routes along Corner Baridi and Olepolos sections. Cars headed to rest at Naivasha as fans jostled to view the rally cars, led by Ian Duncan in his Ford Mustang.

The drivers headed for Naivasha via familiar stages used in the Kenya National Rally Championship series.

"He is our son and we were delighted to see a Kenyan lead the rally.

Action on Saturday when rally cars arrived in Naivasha. Photo: Correspondent/Standard

The action was great after seeing all those cars from the old days," said an excited John Mwema amid applause as the cars zoomed past.

"The noise and speed was incredible,’’ added Mwema.

Duncan proved unbeatable by extending his lead to the longest gap so far of over 10 minutes, with three days of action still remaining as cars reported at the final time control on Saturday.

"We had no problems, but Ian (Duncan) was flying through the stages. We slowed at one of the junctions, but it was nothing serious to cost us much time,’’ said Iqbal Sagoo, Bjorn Waldegaard’s navigator, after arriving in second place at Naivasha. With home advantage in their favor, performance from the rest of the Kenyan drivers improved.

Aslam Khan (Ford Escort), Marzio Kravos (Mercedes 450SLC), Steffano Rocca (Datsun 260Z), Samit Gehlot (Ford Escort) and Quentin Savage (Datsun 180B) showed impressive stage times.

Today will be one of the longest days for the competitors, with cars going as far as Rumuruti and back to Naivasha. The stage carries the longest competitive section of 149km.

Rally cars are set to leave Naivasha at 6am before heading for Liboi, where they are expected at 9.18am, then head for Loruk, where they are expected to arrive at 10.21am.

From Loruk, the first car is expected to arrive at Rumuruti at 11.35am, and in Mbaruk at1.58pm.

The cars will report at Delemere at 2.15pm, from where they will arrive in Soysambu at 2.38pm. The first car is expected at the Sopa Lodges as from 3.38pm onwards.