Joy as mother and son seal autocross titles: Ryan beat Smith in the Junior Class to bag the honours

Ryan beat Smith in the Junior Class to bag the honours.

Legendary driver Ian Duncan won the 2WD Turbo class after beating Shalien Mughal to second overall position.

Gillian Bailey savoured the highlights of her career after sealing the Kenya National Autocross Championship title at penultimate stage over the weekend.

Also victorious was Gillian’s son Ryan Bailey who beat Rio Smith in the Junior Class to seal the title.

The former Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) navigator did in bravado after beating youngsters Hamza Anwar and Sameer Nanji to the podium dash.

After the exhilarating drive, Gillian said: “Today has to be the highlight of my racing career. From two weeks ago having a blown engine on testing to winning 2WD non turbo class of round 8 in the Autocross today and sealing the 2017 championship in my class.”

“I feel very blessed. I’m also so proud of my son Ryan who has won every event in his class this year and also sealed the 2017 championship in his class. Thank you from the bottom of my heart to Paul (Bailey), Wessel and Jaguar who made today’s race possible,” commented Gillian.

Ian’s might

Legendary driver Ian Duncan won the 2WD Turbo class after beating Shalien Mughal to second overall position. Rehan Shah of Ray Racing beat Alfir Khan and Asad Anwar to the 4WD Turbo Class honors.

Girl rider Syanna Jessop beat Yuv Matharu and Tsevi Soni to the podium dash in the Bambino Class Championship podium.

Ryan beat Rio Smith to second overall position in the junior Class.

Meanwhile, Navigator Christer Carlsson is upbeat of his first competition on African soil.

Carlsson will navigate Jan Hagman of Sweden behind the wheel of a Riflex Sport Porsche 911.

The three times Swedish champion in a Group N car said: “It’s my first time in Africa and Safari Classic and I am overly excited about it. Training is going on very well for me and I can’t wait to be on the Safari Classic with Jan.”

While Carlsson will savour his debut on African soil, Hagman will be returning to the ‘World’s Toughest Rally’ for the umpteenth time. Co-driven by Husman Anders, Hagman retired on the Jyvaskylan Suurajot - Rally of 1000 Lakes in 1977 and 78 driving a Saab 96 V4. On the 2013 edition of the East African Safari Classic, Hagman finished 24th in a Porsche 911 SC Proto. 

Hagman and Carlsson drove a Ford Escort RS 1800 MKII finishing 22nd overall. 

The 2017 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic is co-sponsored by Internet Solutions, Sarova Group of hotels, Vipingo Ridge,  Safaricom, Kenya Wildlife Service and Dodhia Packaging.