Classic rally takes shape

Aslam Khan in a porsce 911 camera during a past Classic Rally action. aslam will take part in novembers kenya airways east african safari classic rally [PHOTO:FILE]

Legendary Italian navigator Fabrizia Pons will be among the star attractions when she returns to the forthcoming Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally.

Pons is no stranger to the prestigious marathon event slated for Kenya and Tanzania from November 23-December 1.

She returns to the historic event to reunite with compatriot Gilberto Sandretto behind the wheel of a Porsche 911. Sandretto was among the drivers who recently took advantage of the favourable European summer weather to test-drive with Tuthill Porsche in the Welsh Forest alongside 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist.

Pons navigated Sandretto on the 2015 edition, displaying occasional flashes of brilliance while calling the tulips.

During the 2011 edition of the East African Safari Classic, Pons was in the headlines when she navigated the Tuthill Porsche team of Patrick Njiru and Travis Pastrana. But Pons made her Safari Classic debut on the 2005 edition with Michèle Mouton, who is a French former rally driver. Mouton competed in the World Rally Championship for the Audi factory team, took four victories, and finished runner-up in the drivers’ world championship in 1982

Safari Classic is not the first time Fabrizia has worked with Tuthill or its cars. She and long-standing rally partner Michèle Mouton took part in the Morocco Rally a few years back in a Tuthill Porsche and narrowly missed victory, cheated by a brake caliper a rock smashed during the race.

East African Safari Classic Rally General Manager Pipi Renu said: “We are very excited to have Fabrizia Pons back with Sandretto on the Classic. She is not only a jolly and enthusiastic lady competitor but levelheaded whenever she gets down to serious business in the cockpit and fans in the region will definitely be looking forward to interacting with the Italian legend in the Safari.”

Born on 26 June 1955, Pons is best known for her partnership with Michèle Mouton. The pair won four rallies with the Rallye Sanremo in 1981.