Waldegaard expected at Classic rally

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

In just under twelve months, participants in the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally of 2011 will be enjoying the prize giving in Mombasa.

They will be congratulating themselves depending on their fortunes during the previous ten days.

It all seems a long way away in both distance and time but there are some people who are moving to ensure they are a part of the action when the 58th Safari Rally kicks off on November 19, next year.

The Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally is, without doubt, the most highly regarded rally for historic cars in the world. This was emphasised recently by confirmation by Titus Naikuni, Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways that his company was extending its support of the event until 2015 that will encompass the next three events as the Safari Classic is a bi-ennial event.

The entry list for 2011 is already open and will close in mid-October next year. It has already received 22 entries.

Among them are what one might call ‘the usual suspects’, drivers who have developed a taste for the unique qualities of the Safari and have done well on past events.

Back in force

They include Steve Perez, Geoff Bell, Aslam Khan, John Lloyd and Gunther Kronseder. The Kronos Vintage team from Belgium whose Porsches were so strong in 2009 are back in force with entries for Kronos boss, Jean-Pierre Mondron and Thierry de Latre du Bosqueau both of whom finished in 2009, and a third Porsche 911 for the winner of the Rallye du Maroc, Gregoire de Mevius.

In addition, they have reserved three more entries for Porsche 911s, while the rival Tuthill organisation have not shown their hand. But at the current rate of progress, it could well be that Porsches will for the first time eclipse Datsun for the largest number of cars entered.

While nothing can be confirmed until formal entries are made, the name of the winner of our 2007 event and ex-World Champion, Bjˆrn WaldegÂrd, has been linked to several possibilities.

Motorsport News even published a two-page article some weeks ago of which the main feature was the Ford Escort Mk1 that was being built for M-Sport boss, Malcolm Wilson, to use on the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally.

Rallying adventures

The maximum number of entries is sixty so for those who may be considering an entry, a decision should not be put off for too long or hopes may disappear of taking part in one of the great rallying adventures that still exists.

It should be pointed out that competing is not the only way of participating in the Safari Classic adventure. Starting in Mombasa on Kenya’s Indian Ocean coast, the Safari travels through Kenya and Tanzania and takes in the sight of both Mt Kilimanjaro and Mt Kenya and several famous game parks in its travels from the coast to the highlands and back.

Following the Safari Classic to watch the rally cars and spend time in the wonderful scenery of East Africa is possible by means of the special tourist packages that will soon be marketed by Kenya Airways through their web site.

Everything being considered, the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally has so much to offer in every respect.

This is one of the toughest and most amazing rallies in the world.