The Dutch- Belgian double nationality entry of Remon Vos and Stephane Prevot in a (Tuthill Porsche 911) adds the much-needed zest to the Mini Classic Rally slated for December 9-11 in the Western Kenya region.
Remon and Prevot make up the high-quality 30-car entry for the Mini Classic that will serve as a precursor to the main 2023 East African Safari Classic Rally. Tuthill is no stranger to Kenyan events having run several cars in multiple Safari Classic events.
Tuthill’s rallying credentials were firmly established in 1993, when the founder, Francis Tuthill, won the London-Sydney Rally in a Porsche 911.
Richard Tuthill followed in his father’s footsteps, winning the British Junior Rally title in 1996 thus earning a works drive with Mitsubishi in North America, and subsequently competing in many WRC events.
Other foreign entries include South African rally queen Lola Verlaque in a VW Golf MK1 and Belgian Bart Vanhaverbeke in a Mercedes.
Others are the all-South African crew of Jose Sardinha and Glen Castle in a Pajero. The Kenyan brigade will be led by legends Carl Tundo in a Triumph TR7 and Ian Duncan in a Datsun 280Z.
Duncan is among four Kenyans who will ruffle feathers in the Minti Motorsport livery during the event that will close the Kenyan motorsports calendar in 2022.
Others are Eric Bengi in a Datsun Violet GT, Raaji Bharij (Ford Escort Mark1) and Sam Karangatha (Datsun 180B).
The Mini Classic was introduced in 2018 as a mark of respect for former EASCR chairman JS Vohra who died in 2017 while officiating in the Safari Classic. The 2018 edition ran in South Coast followed by the 2021 event in Amboseli. This year’s event will start from Sarova Woodlands and head to the high-altitude Eldoret region.
East African Safari Classic Limited chairman Joey Ghose during a pre-event presser in Nairobi noted that the 2022 Mini Classic will not necessarily be a rough ride. “The Mini Classic will be a unique and indeed the toughest event of the decade.”
“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 to navigate through the terrain effectively well,” said Ghose.
