Drivers share their experiences as Classic Rally reaches halfway

Navigator Alex Gelsomino checking Porsche 911 at Ol Kalou checkpoint. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

The tenth edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) landed in the scenic Amboseli ecosystem yesterday.

The competition, that’s already half way of the 5000km journey from Naivasha to Kilifi, has been fierce and tough, with over 15 drivers throwing in the towel.

Below, Standard Sports highlights some of the memorable quotes from the drivers and navigators as they comb the rough terrains to make it to the finish line in Watamu on Friday. 

Name: Ken Block

Car model: Porsche 911

“This rally is equivalent to our entire US Rally Championships all rolled  up into one event.”

Name: Gavin Laurence

Car model: Porsche 911

“To be honest I could have asked for a better result today. There is attrition out there. It’s the roughest I have ever seen in the day one of a Classic Rally, but we are taking each stage at a time.”

Name: Ian Duncan

Car model: Rover Vittese

“About the routes, we did some of them a long time ago, I’m not sure of stage three, but I think we have done it in the past.”

Name: Lee Rose

Car model: Ford Escort RS 1800

“We started off very well but unfortunately in the second stage my navigator started to feel really sick. I drove blind in the second stage, took some anti-nausea medicine but again it was rough and I just drove blind again the third stage. We managed to get to the end with a few hairy moments.”

Name: Philip Kadoorie

Car model: Porsche 911

“We had a really terrific first stage. Then the brakes failed us, so we ran about 25 kilometers before they came back. I think they just over heated.”

Name: Frank Tundo 

Car model: Triumph TR7

“Despite the mishap of rolling over on day one, the rally is good, very good, but very rough. It is a lot rougher than normal. You have to either look after the car or yourself.

Name: Patrik Sandell

Car model: Porsche 911

“We backed off our speed at stage three. It was very, very rough. I didn’t want to destroy the car.”

Kris Rosenberger at Loldaiga Ranch in Laikipia County, Feb 12, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Name: Baldev Chager

Car model: Porsche 911

“The race is turning out to be a sprint, considering the speeds Ken, Rosenberger, Patrik Sandell are pushing, you can’t just keep waiting, so you have to step it up a notch and if you wait for long you will be left far way behind.”

Name: Alex Gelsominno

Car model: Porsche 911

“We got two punctures at the second stage. I’m not going to complain because punctures are going to be part of this event. It’s a rough, tough event and it’s fine to get them earlier. Hopefully we’re done with them.”

Name: Kris Rosenberger

Car model: Porsche 911

“Day two was a real surprise for us. We went the wrong way for a bit. But I can’t blame my navigator for that. We came to the section that was shortened, the original stage went left and they changed that to straight. That lost us some time but the changing of the tires cost us more. And we also lost the rear screen, it just fell off.”

Name: Piers Daykin

Car model: Datsun 240Z

“I built the car, I tested it for the owner. I’ve been fortunate enough to be given the car to drive. So, it’s not like I’ve never driven the car, if you see what I mean. I’ve grown up on bikes, not in rally cars. So, to move on to four wheels, it’s a pretty amazing thing for me.”

Name: Geoff Bell

Car model: Datsun 240Z

“Unfortunately, day one was a disaster for us and put us out of the rally, so we are just now rallying for fun.”

Name: Raaji Bharij

Car model: Ford Escort

“I’m not feeling any particular pressure. We are just here to drive our rally. I think we are better off than some people.”

Name: Eric Bengi

Car model: Datsun 180B

“We have been through three grueling days which has really taken a toll on the car, but we are managing.”

Name: Antony Nielsen

Car model: Rover Vitesse

“It’s still early days obviously, and we are playing the safari game which means you don’t attack from day one. We have seen the guys in front of us attacking and the pace is very high but with Ian’s (Duncan) experience, he is slowly attacking and getting quicker and quicker.”

Name: Tauseef Khan

Car model: Ford Escort

“We thank God we started off well. The car so far has been behaving well after few days of rough moments.”

Name: Gareth Dawe

Car model: Triumph TR7

“We are having good fun in the car, it’s great to be with mzee (Frank Tundo), he is a fantastic driver. The TR7 is absolutely brilliant. But it’s been quite rough to be honest.”

Name: Evgeny Kireev

Car model: Porsche 911

“I’m getting into the rhythm but the start of the rally was really rough, we had two punctures and we lost about five to six minutes.”

Name: Jamie Clarke

Car model: Porsche 911

“This is not only our first classic, it’s our first rally. It’s been just incredible event and well-organised, we have really enjoyed ourselves.” 

Name: Mindo Gatimu

Car model: Datsun 180B

“The mini-classic was a good testing ground for us. At least we did not have to jump right into the main classic. We had an idea of what to expect having done the mini last year.”

Name: Rommy Bamrah

Car model: Datsun 240Z

“Day two and three were more smoother and better and we feel as if we are getting into a rhythm.”

Name: Scott Armstrong

Car model: Datsun 1601

“The car is good, obviously it’s not my car. I’m lucky to drive something that is so well prepared compared to my car.”

 

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