By Feverpitch Reporter
Top national rally driver Ian Duncan will spearhead locals’ assault on the Kenya Airways East African Classic Safari Rally which now has 46 entrants.
It will be Duncan’s second attempt on the 10-day marathon rally after retiring his Ford Mustang in the 2007 event while holding on to a commendable third position.
Duncan, who won the Safari Rally in 1994 at the wheels of a Toyota Celica, will join 45 other crews who have entered the "world’s greatest classic car rally".
The event will cover 4,100km over remote and beautiful landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania. It will run from November 22 to December 1.
Ian Duncan and Amaar Slatch in action during the 2007 Classic Safari Rally in a Ford Mustang. Photo: Romana |
"I have stripped the car to check for any faults. Lessons leant from our first event will be handy in November,’’ said Duncan yesterday.
The former national champion said he was optimistic Good Year would supply tyres for the Mustang and was discussing with other parties.
Among favourites
To be navigated by Amar Slatch, Duncan is among favourites for the Kenya Airways-marathon rally that will start in Mombasa.
Kenya won the event in 2003 and in 2005 at the hands of Rob Collinge in a Datusn 260Z. Bjorn Waldegaard won it in 2007 at the wheels of a Ford Escort RS2000. The Swede will return to defend his title in a Porsche 911 navigated by his son Mathias.
Some of the former Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) contenders, who have since settled in foreign countries, are expected for the event.
Aziz Tejpar, who contested many rounds of the then Standard Production Car Championship before moving to England in the late 1980s, has entered a Ford Escort. It will be shipped to Kenya soon. He will be navigated by Andy Nagi, a familiar name in the KNRC series.
Tanzania-based Jayant Shah will contest the event for the fourth consecutive time with Loft Drews who resides in Australia. They will drive a Datsun 260Z.
Former winning Datsun 260Z will be at the hands of Steffano Rocca since purchasing the car from Collinge. Joey Ghose, who navigated Sammy Aslam to the finish at the 1994 Safari Rally, will drive a Datsun 1600 sss. He moved to England over a decade ago.
Other entries are from Australia, the US, Belgium, France, Sweden, the Netherlands, Tanzania, South Africa, Italy, Switzerland and England.
The classic rally has been scheduled outside the international rally calendar to give an opportunity to international and local media coverage.
Access Kenya will provide Internet connectivity along the rally route to help beam out the latest news.
