Classic onslaught sponsors cancells this month spectator in Vipingo

BY ERNEST NDUNDA

VIPINGO, KENYA: Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally organisers have cancelled this month’s spectator stage in Vipingo.

This has been occasioned by the extensive road works going on between Vipingo and Kaloleni.

However, event general manager Ashok Bhalla clarified that the organisation of the Athi River spectator stage on November 24 will go on as scheduled.

With the cancellation of the Vipingo stage, rally cars will now be flagged off from Sarova Whitesands on November 21, then head towards Majengo via Nguu Tatu and onwards to Mazeras, where the first stage starts.

“Since we were going to use the exit road from Kaloleni to Mazeras, we had no choice but to cancel the spectator stage at Vipingo, which was initially meant to be a treat for Coast spectators,” said Bhalla.

The first competitive section is a massive 86-kilometre run all the way from Majengo to Matope and is designed to offer crews a real test of the Coast challenge.

Competitive section

Meanwhile, the Classic secretariat on Riverside Drive in Nairobi has finalised arrangements for the planned Blue Triangle spectator stage in Athi River on November 24.

Bhalla said the Blue Triangle stage begins at noon following which cars will go back to Kajiado for the day’s final competitive section before heading for Amboseli National Park for an overnight stop.

Bhalla said they are a bit worried that the shot rains have been delayed. “We are just hoping that the heavens do not open during the event,” added Bhalla.

A total of 60 cars, including locals and foreigners, have signed up to endure the 4,000-kilometre run around some of the most historic and picturesque East African terrains.

Legendary Kenyan driver Ian Duncan, navigated by Amaar Slatch in a Ford Capri, leads the home assault along with veteran Aslam Khan in a Porsche and Ramesh Vishram in a Ford Escort. Lofty Drews will be back to navigate Arusha-based industrialist Jayant Shah in a Porsche.

Elsewhere, teams used the weekend’s KCB Kilifi Rally to test their machines ahead of the start of the grand KQ Safari Classic.

Onkar Rai had his Porsche 911 tested by Baldev Chager who drove it to victory in the Classic Car Cup.

Rai, a former KNRC Division Two champion, navigated Chager in his own Porsche that he will be driving in the Classic.

Also testing a Porsche 911 was Aslam Khan, who finished third in the category.

Khan fought a good battle with Britain-based Hardev Singh Sira, who came home second in the Classic Car Cup category of the Kilifi Rally.

enzioka@standardmedia.co.ke