Standard Group PLC Board member Juliana Rotich enjoys a ride with rally driver Azar Anwar during the East African Classic Rally Media partnership Launch at the Standard Group offices along Mombasa Road in Nairobi on January 17, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]
Kenyan rally legend Azar Anwar has backed local aces Ian Duncan, Baldev Chager and Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo to reclaim the trophy in the tenth edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR).
Kris Rosenberger of Austria is out to defend the diadem he won in 2019, after 2017 winner Tundo failed in his title defence of the biannual event.
The toughest motorsport showpiece on earth will be held on February 10-18, 2022.
Anwar believes the Kenyan trio has high chance of beating the well-oiled international drivers who have jetted in for the 5000km gruelling race that will start from Naivasha and end in Watamu.
“The battle will be among the top seeded international speedsters against the three locals,” the former Kenya Motorsport Personality of the Year told Standard Sports.
“The contest is going to be tough. Only ten of the drivers have a chance of winning the event.
“Out of the total 50 participants, 40 will be quick with their races but eventually it will be more of having fun,” he said.
For the Kenyan drivers to be on the podium, the multiple Safari Rally champion says they should perfect their practices, have a great team backing them up, have a good budget and should eventually embrace personal fitness.
“Rallying is a team sport. Meditation, gym work and good state of mind is key in the game,” said Anwar.
Interestingly, decorated Anwar never contested in the EASCR in his heyday.
The multiple Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) winner will, however, take part in this years’ Classic Rally as a safety crew.
Tundo heads to the competition buoyed with a continental title as he is the reigning African Rally champion.
He is also the KNRC defending champion, a championships he has now bagged five times, following his stellar performance last season.
The 48-year old driver is also a five-time Safari Rally winner and the 2017 EASCR champion.
Apart from bagging multiple KNRC titles, Duncan, who has triumphed in the Classic Rally twice, has already entered his name in the EASCR Hall of Fame alongside other international legends including Collinge Rob (twice), Waldegard Bjorn (twice) and Stig Blomqvist (once).
Chager is a four time KNRC winner (2008, 2013, 2014 and 2019), a three time Safari Rally winner, a World Rally Championships (WRC) Candidate Rally champion (2019), a two time Rift Valley Classic Rally champion and a two time Mini Classic Rally champion.
