Tundo in Classic Safari Rally mix: Battle lines shaping up ahead of East Africa marathon motor competition

TOPFRY 1000 CLASSIC RALLY 2016 Driver Carl Tundo navigated by Tim Jessop in Car number2 Truimph TR8 is being serviced during the Top Fry 1000 Classic Rally in Baringo County on Sunday, Dec 11, 2016. [PHOTO: JONAH ONYANGO/STANDARD]

Speed merchant nicknamed 'Flash' signs up for KQ Safari Classic.

Four-time ARC Safari Rally winner Carl Tundo has signed up for the 8th edition of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally slated for November 23 to December 1.

Tundo and his partner, Tim Jessop, join the growing star-studded list of drivers  who include 1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist, WRC 1994 Safari Rally winner Ian Duncan, and multiple former Kenyan champion Baldev Singh Chager.

Others are South Africa’s Geoff Bell and the highly competitive Group B Mazda RX-7 of French veteran, Philippe Gache.

Tundo, the son of veteran Safari driver Frank Tundo, returns to the world’s toughest historic rally in the same Triumph TR7 machine he drove in the 2015 edition of the Safari Classic.

Tundo’s entry into the East African Safari Classic Rally has heightened expectations, according to the event general manager, Pipi Renu.

He said: “We can now look forward to some scintillating podium rivalry. The million dollar question is: Will Tundo be the man to lay his hands on the coveted title, which is one of the few titles missing from his trophy cabinet?

“We are all very excited about Tundo’s entry and can’t wait to see just how things pan out from now on. Carl is one driver you will hardly underestimate on a good day, so thrills and spills are guaranteed here.”

‘Flash’, as he is fondly referred to in Kenyan rally circles, is no stranger to the Safari Classic fold. He navigated his best friend and multiple former Kenya champion, Alastair Cavenagh, in a Ford Escort in the inaugural Safari Classic in 2003, and yet again in a Mark2 in the 2011 and 2013 editions.

Carl, who won the ARC Safari Rally in 2004, made his Safari Classic debut in 2015 in a Triumph TR7 and countless mechanical problems restricted him to 15th overall position despite setting some impressive stage times.

He returns to the prestigious marathon competition as one of the favourite drivers. Tundo won a fourth career Guru Nanak Rally title behind the wheel of a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 10 in the Kenya National Rally Championship in Naivasha earlier in the month.