L. MathekaMan versus machine showdown as EA Classic Rally begins
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 09.02.22. | 12:50
The Rally will traverse 11 counties and over 360 towns in Kenya putting a focus on attractions within these regions.
Over 40 drivers are set to do battle in a gruelling nine-day East Africa Safari Classic Rally set to flag off at Naivasha on Thursday 10 February.
Australian, Kris Rosenberger, first off the ramp, is out to defend the title he won in 2019. He will face stiff competition from 2017 winner Tundo who failed in his title defence three years ago.
Driving a Tuthill Porsche, navigated by German Nicola Bleicher, Rosenberger headlines a group of eleven drivers categorised as the group one that has six Kenyan drivers.
The six Kenyan drivers include Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title-holder Carl 'flash' Tundo. He is also the Africa Rally champion. Others include Ian Duncan and Baldev Charger.
Apart from bagging multiple KNRC titles, Duncan, who has triumphed in the Classic Rally twice, has already entered his name in the EASCR Hall of Fame alongside other international legends including Collinge Rob (twice), Waldegard Bjorn (twice) and Stig Blomqvist (once).
Rally route for the East African Safari Classic Rally.
— M-Spidi (@MSpidi254) February 9, 2022
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Charger is a four-time KNRC winner (2008, 2013, 2014 and 2019), a three-time Safari Rally winner, a World Rally Championships (WRC) Candidate Rally champion (2019), a two time Rift Valley Classic Rally champion and a two time Mini Classic Rally champion.
Meanwhile, the drivers tackle over 5000km with the course having new routes. Out of the 24 stages, 20 are new.
The longest section is 120km of competitive rallying while the shortest is 30km. Most stages have an endurance stretch of about 8-9km with the crews expected to cover about 4-600km per day.
#RT @magicalkenya: RT @kblock43: Wildlife is definitely a 🔶hazard🔶 here on the East African Safari Classic Rally! Example here: these beautiful zebras. Never have I had to avoid so many animals on test stages! But, the real deal starts in just 2 days. pic.twitter.com/taBnePa2T2
— Paul Omeno (@OmenoPaul) February 9, 2022
Due to safety reasons, the event will mostly traverse private conservancies. Due to Covid-19 protocols, the rally which has attracted over 40 drivers from 17 nationalities will be held entirely in Kenya. There will be no Uganda and Tanzania routes as it has been the tradition.
The competition will start in Naivasha then head to Elgeyo Marakwet County where it will pass through the scenic Kerio Valley; the bedrock of athletics and home to paragliding.
How does the @Tuthill_Porsche-built 1984 Porsche 911 jump?? Good! I put that suspension to the test here with some 5th gear jumps. The East African Safari Classic Rally starts in two days! pic.twitter.com/az4S5R8T25
— Ken Block (@kblock43) February 8, 2022
The drivers will then return back to Nakuru. The race will then head towards the rail-town of Nanyuki where the competitors will have a glimpse of the iconic Mt. Kenya.
They will then battle in very challenging terrain in Laikipia North, after which they will make their way down to the Amboseli ecosystem before getting to the coastal region.
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