Reigning Classic Rally Champion, Stiq Blomqvist was the overnight leader as the 2017 East African Safari Classic Rally made a poor start with organizers forced to cut short the opening section of the competition due to poor weather yesterday. Leading cars got stuck in the first section after a river burst its banks prior to reaching the overnight rest halt at the Amboseli Lodge.
He was followed by the Porsche of Carl Tundo with Baldev Chager placed third in his Kabras-sponsored Porsche. The former Kenya champion Chager is making his debut on the driving seat after navigating former Kenya National Division Two Champion Onkar Rai in the last two editions. Onkar is lying seventh in yet another Kabras-entered Porsche while the Cementers Team of Ramesh Vishram is lying in the top-10 in his Ford Escort Mark2. However, Duncan’s Capri was seen at the end of the tow rope heading for the final service point of the day.
Duncan, the twice winner of the Safari Classic, is attempting the unprecedented third win behind the wheel of a Ford Capri.
The Classic Rally Rules allow drivers to miss a maximum of four full days collectively or individually with penalties as specified in these regulations and still re-join the rally.
As per the rules, any driver exceeding four days will not be classified. Drivers are also permitted to miss any competitive section for the penalty as laid down in these regulations. Unfortunately, the organisers had to cut short the first stage as leading cars got stranded in the opening section of the competition.
The third stage of the marathon rally was canceled due to loss of adequate time in the opening wet section. Thus Stage Two was the only section to be run clear.
The disaster in the opening day of the Classic Rally brought back old memories when wet stages were normal part of the real action.
The first section was canceled due to wet and slippery conditions as seven of the first lot of cars found it impossible to maneuver through stage because of the poor condition.
Meanwhile,
rally traffic will today cross over to Tanzania side but will be back again to Amboseli night stop at Ol Tukai after covering a distance of 534km.
Day Two will revolve around the Amboseli Lodge with further three stages through Ol Tukai (100kms), Ol Donyo Sambu (117kms) and Ambo Gate (51kms) before spending the second consecutive night at the Amboseli Lodge. “The stage tends to become rough with many mud holes jumps and river beds,” said Rally Manager Pipi Renu.
Unlike in the past when rally cars camped in Tanzania for two days, this time it’s a day to Arusha and back. Earlier yesterday, governor Ali Hassan Joho flagged off the event from Sarova Whitesands where 30 cars started thew journey.