Kenyan rally veteran Glen Edmunds and first-time navigator Joe Autera are hoping to leave a mark when the 12th edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally revs into action today (Friday) in Diani.
The charismatic duo rolled into the scrutineering zone at Diani Leisure Beach and Golf Resort on Wednesday, proudly unveiling their finely-tuned Datsun Violet GT, prepared with precision and passion by Triple S Motors ahead of the iconic endurance contest.
Edmunds admitted that the build and preparation process has been both intense and rewarding.
“We’ve had a few issues coming up to the event, but that’s what testing is all about. We seem to have got most of that sorted, and we’ll just keep hammering away at it,” he said.
The veteran driver is banking on a smooth run this time around after mechanical gremlins hampered his Skoda outing two years ago.
“We hope to have a trouble-free run, unlike two years ago. That was a fun car to drive, but this one is going to be even better.”
Beside him sits Autera, not a rookie in motorsport engineering, but a complete newcomer to competitive rally navigation. His expertise has always been behind the build, not the pace notes.
Their partnership, forged through years of mechanical collaboration, finally takes competitive flight on Kenya’s unforgiving rally terrain.
“Glenn’s been after me for years to come out and do this with him. We finally got permission from my wife, and here I am,” Autera said.
“It’s giving me a totally different perspective on motorsport from the right-front seat. It’s a privilege and a real joy.”
Remarkably, this is not just his first Safari Classic, it’s his first rally of any kind.
“I do have a motorsport background, but not in driving or co-driving. I’m excited to finally see how everything truly comes together in competition,” he added.
Edmunds was quick to point out that the Datsun Violet GT project belongs to Triple S Motors.
“It’s their car. They asked me to drive and to put together a competitive package. I’m just the driver, same story we had with the Skoda.”
Away from the service park, the iconic event is gearing up for an ambitious evolution.
Organisers have outlined bold plans to reignite the spirit of East Africa’s rallying heritage while accelerating motorsport tourism and talent development.
Chairman Joey Ghose revealed that two additional events, the East African Classic Raid and East African Classic Tour, are set to debut next year, widening opportunities for competitors and adventure-seeking motoring enthusiasts.
The Classic Tour will offer a more relaxed, non-competitive experience for collectors and enthusiasts keen to explore Kenya’s scenic gems at a leisurely pace.
“It’s mainly for tourism, and for those who have lovely cars but can’t push them at high speeds. We want to take them to the best places in Kenya, which really support tourism and relaxation,” Ghose explained.
Ghose, who will also be competing in this year’s rally alongside Gordon Noble in a Tuthill-prepared Porsche 911, added that the Classic Raid will mirror a mini Paris-Dakar style adventure, tapping into Dakar expertise to ensure world-class endurance and safety standards across challenging East African terrain.
The jewel in this expansion plan, however, is the spectacular revival of the Coronation Rally, a tribute to the original 1953 Coronation Safari, anchoring the 75-year celebrations of rallying in East Africa.
“This rally is going to be about four days long, covering roughly 4,000km, and will be run in the shortest time possible,” Ghose announced.
