Kenya’s Duncan wins Classic Rally in great style

By A Correspondent

Ian Duncan won the 2009 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally after leading from start to finish.

The former Safari Rally champion and multiple winner of the Kenya National Rally Championship titles, scored a historic win yesterday over world rally icon and defending Safari Classic Rally champion, Bjorn Waldeggard, of Sweden.

"It is one of the sweetest rally victories of my life. It was hard work and at times stressful, but the service crew did a fantastic job.

"Amo was excellent and my sponsors could not have helped more than this. Goodyear, Sopa Lodges, CMC and Tangaza were great,’’ said Duncan.

Ian Duncan (right) and Amaar Slatch celebrate after winning the KQ East African Safari Classic Rally Tuesday in Mombasa. [PHOTO: MAARUFU MOHAMED/STANDARD]

The Kenyan household name worked a strategy that, even one of the world’s best rally drivers, Waldegaard, could not unravel in his attempt to win the title for the second time.

"I was waiting for Duncan to have a major problem but he drove very well and was technically good. His preparation on the Mustang was excellent and it proved a good car. I will keep on trying to win the rally,’’ said Waldegaard.

One would have expected Duncan to ease off going into the final day with a comfortable lead. However, he was quickest in all the remaining stages to emerge the winner with more than a 10-minute margin over Waldegaard’s Porsche 911.

Waldegaard, winner of the Safari Rally on four different occasions and victor in three of the world’s most punishing rallies in 1977 — the East African Safari Rally, the Acropolis Rally, and the RAC Rally —was placed second overall.

Jonathan Savage and sons Quentin and Russell made history by finishing the rally in the 11th and 13th places. Senior Savage was in a Datsun 260Z and the boys in a Datsun 180B that, not only finished the rally but, scored a three-second fastest time in the final sections of the competition.

Aziz Tejpar and Andy Nagi finished 12th on their Classic Rally debut, driving a Ford Escort. Malindi-based Stefano Rocca ended the rally with fastest stage time in the last section. His 203/05 winning Datsun 260Z was placed 16th.