Njiru roars back

By FeverPitch reporter

Local hero Patrick Njiru displayed a brilliant show on day six of the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally as he took over the Race4Change Porsche 911 from American stunt performer Travis Pastrana on Friday.

Travis flew to back America on Thursday after posting two fastest stage times but due to a series of mechanical gremlins, he ended up in position 19 when the cars pulled in at Amboseli for the rest day.

But Njiru’s return from self-imposed sabbatical saw him move up three places up to the 16th place.

As a result of the cancellation of competitive stage three which is Amboseli-Bulls Eye stage owing to rising river-crossings, Njiru was among those handed bogey times when the first 9 cars went through the stage.

On CS14, the former Kenya champion was 23rd fastest and eighth fastest on the 59.41km stage (CS15).

Spectacular show

"Today (Friday) was casino day with many rivers being crossed on the first section. Second section everything was okay, then we found a spectator car, which was stuck on a hairpin right. So went into the ditch but it’s been full of drama and the usual stories of Safari. But the second stage was very good and I’m very happy," said Njiru adding that these were the conditions they rallies on during their heydays.

"This is the real wet Safari minus the four wheel drive. The two- wheel that I’m driving now is quite different because it doesn’t have more power than the 4WD that we used in our days," said Njiru.

Njiru started the rally in position 21 on the start list and remarked that his first drive after a 10-year lull expected.

"It is very exciting and very good to be back after a 10 year break," he added

Turin-based female Italian Fabrizia Pons, who has been reading the pace notes to Pastrana for the first four days of the competition, is navigating Njiru.

Njiru’s Race4Change teammate Steve Funk said: "We got stuck between the two rivers on first section then we helped Alistair Cavenagh, who was in the second river with the water right up to the windows.

"Our car was literally carried over the river by 40 Masai and also towed by Cavenagh. Afterwards we lost about 15 minutes in the dust of slower cars and because of trucks."

Another member of the Race4Change team is former World Rally Champion Bjorn Wadegard from Sweden.