Will it be Kenya's Chager or Italian Eugenio?
Sports
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| Dec 18, 2023
After rolling twice in 2013 and 2015, Swedish pair of David von Schinkel and Fredrick von der Esch is determined to complete the rally on Monday.
The competition will end at the lush Diani Golf Course in Ukunda where the winner will be crowned after a gruelling 4,000km journey.
Currently, 'Italian Giraffe' Eugenio Amos and defending champion Kenya's speedster Baldev Chager are at the forefront for the gong.
Schinkel, who is returning to Kenya after eight years, has described the contest as tough, as they have battled several flat tyres on the journey with their pink Tuthill Porsche 911 emblazoned 'Racing For Health'.
The duo was ranked 12th from 63 participants after provisionally clocking 13:01:47.7 ahead of the 358km Day 8 contest that traversed Amboseli to Voi yesterday.
"The target is to finish, something we've never achieved before. I'm so careful, I don't want to roll again, so the aim is to endure the pain to bring the car home in one piece," Schinkel told Standard Sports.
Schinkel says he prepared well with his co-driver Esch who is making his debut in the rally.
Apart from the competition, the duo is distributing 3000 spectacles to various Kenyan communities.
Schinkel has carried the initiative for seven years in Kenya and Tanzania, where he's been distributing thousands of glasses.
"The greatest challenge is some of these spectacles are stuck at the custom due to increased taxes. The villages across Kenya are so happy with the noble initiative, we will continue to do this as long as we come to Kenya," Schinkel said.
"If you can't read, you can't go to school. If you can't see, you can't read, so it's very important that you can see," he said.
The unique eye wears are being channeled in villages, schools , hospitals among other public places.
Since they love motorsports, Schinkel says it is only prudent that their organisation give back through the spectacles for using local roads.
"I love Kenya, I love the country, there are nice people, sceneries are beautiful, the wild life is amazing," noted Esch.