Minti Motorsport UK are the new owners of East African Safari Rally Classic Ltd

FILE: Geoff Bell co-driven by Tim Challen from South Africa drive their Datsun 260Z car from the ramp after being flagged off as the East African Safari Classic Rally got underway at the Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort, November 28, 2019. [Gideon Maundu]

Eighteen years after its launch, the East African Safari Classic Rally has announced new owners, new management and a new direction for the world’s greatest classic rally.

In a press statement published on its website, managing director of Minti Motorsports Jeet Ghose announced the appointment of Lynn Tundo as the managing director of the Classic following Minti Motorsport UK's takeover of the EASCR.

"Lynn comes from a family where rally is in the DNA. She was the first Lady Chairman of a motor club in Kenya and has organised numerous very successful rallies that embody the spirit of the Classic," said Jeet Ghose.

On appointment, Lynn said, "The new team has a deep understanding of classic rallies as management, entrants, officials and ultimately fans. The intent is to bring back the classic, embracing old-fashioned rallying values of camaraderie and fairness."

The Classic’s immediate goals are to attract as many entrants as possible and Mrs Tundo announced the entry fee as an incredibly low $8,000 (Sh 881,000) for all comers.

"We’ve lowered the entry fee with the intention of making this rally as widely accessible as possible and to particularly encourage young teams to enter," she said.

This year’s regulations will be published online by February 1st and entrants may file their entries online.

East African Classic Safari Rally 2019. [Standard Sports]

"This will be a rally run for the drivers, rally fans and sponsors," said Raju Chagger, Clerk of the Course for the third Classic running.

"The rally will be as tough and as challenging as only African landscapes can be, but simultaneously fun, transparent and honest."

Plans for the 2021 rally include new routes across gruelling terrain in Northern Kenya, bringing the rally to Baringo, Laikipia, and Nakuru.

The world’s greatest Classic Rally will begin in Naivasha on November 1st, ending in Mombasa on November 9th, covering almost 5,000km of the most challenging roads in Kenya.

Alongside the current management team of Pipi Renu and Darshna Shah, the team also welcomed Tash Tundo, who joins as Marketing Manager and Chantal Young, who joins as Client Manager.

Minti Motorsports is a family run company owned by Jeet Ghose, son of rally enthusiast Joey Ghose.

 Jeet brings the experience of managing various businesses across East Africa and the Middle East.

Having grown up a fan of rallying, he is excited to be involved in the EACSR and looking forward to re-energising the event.

FILE: Onkar Rai, the best placed kenyan on his way to 3rd overall in a Porsche 912. [photo courtesy]

About the East African Safari Classic Rally

First run in 2003, the legendary East African Safari Classic Rally is a nine-day rally covering up to 5,000 kilometres through Kenya. Safari Classic rekindles the spirit of the original Safari Rally, which put East Africa on the motorsport map and earned an unassailable reputation as the world's toughest rally.

Previous winners of the Classic include legends of Motor Sport including the late Bjorn Waldegard, Ian Duncan, Stig Blomqvist, Rob Collinge and Carl Tundo.