Organisers of the next month's 2022 Mini Classic Rally are reverting to the picturesque and sentimental Safari routes in Western Kenya in a bid to offer competitors and spectators a taste of the old Safari.
This year’s Mini Classic is slated for 9-11 December. East African Safari Classic Limited Chairman Joey Ghose said the 2022 Mini Classic, which is a precursor for the main 2023 East Africa Safari Classic, will not necessarily be a rough ride.
“The Mini Classic will be a unique and indeed the toughest event of the decade. Since 2017, I have been involved in Kenyan rallies and I haven't seen something like this,” said Ghose.
"It's not flat-out motoring. It is simply technical driving and not an extremely rough drive like the Rhino Charge. Crews will definitely need to be strategic in their approach this time around to navigate through the terrain effectively well," he added.
Ghose noted: “The character of the main Safari Classic—slated for December 11-18, 2023—remains with challenging closed dirt roads, stunning picture-postcard scenery and exotic wildlife and indeed the massive drops in Cheranagni Hills—typical of Safari, hence the curtain-raising Mini Classic."
“The third edition of the Mini Classic will take place in December starting in Nakuru and traversing some of the most picturesque routes which made Western Kenya a Safari hub in the old days.”
The first edition in 2018 was held in memory of the late Safari Classic boss JS Vohra in South Coast after he died while officiating in the 2017 Safari Classic.
On the other hand, the second edition was successfully held during the Covid-19 period in 2021 around the elephant region of Amboseli.
This year's event has attracted 30 high-quality entries among them Carl "Flash" Tundo in a Triumph TR7, the Dutch-Belgian Tuthill Porsche team of Remon Vos and Stephane Prevot in a Porsche 91; Briton Malcom Rich in a Ford Escort MK2 and Ian Duncan who is among the four Kenyan drivers entered by Minti Motorsport.
Ghose added: “The Mini Classic has since its inception in 2018 offered very good practice for local drivers well in time for the main Classic. But this year, we are lucky to have two foreigners coming to boost the now vibrant sports tourism sector.”
“The event will traverse deep into the countryside roads where world rally teams once conquered in the olden days. If you want to reach the hearts of Cheranagani Hills, albeit rather expensive to cover for the corporate world, the Mini Classic and Safari Classic are the events to consider in terms of corporate sponsorships,” Ghose emphasized.
Ghose added that the essence of Classic rallying and its mammoth distances is to try and take the rally sport back to the people.
He noted: “We will strive to revive and kickstart rallying as it used to be back then. Through our CSR initiatives, we’ll continue to add value by building boreholes, supporting schools and making the residents a part of the classic splendor on all the routes we traverse.”
Ghose said the three-day Mini Classic course is ready after a series of route surveys. “This is not your normal rally as it'll be as tough as the Safari of the 1960s and 70s," he quipped.
In a bid to enhance safety, Ghose revealed precautional measures that will ensure the safety of drivers and onlookers alike. The organization has also appointed veteran Safari driver Steve Anthony to handle the Zero Car.
“We needed experience and that's why we brought in Steve to lead the rally traffic with the Zero Car. We are incorporating low-flying aircraft and choppers to ensure that all competitors are within our reach just in case of any eventuality,” Ghose explained.
