Its back, bigger, and better; the long awaited East African Safari classic rally kicked off on 10 February 2022 to run till 18 February 2022. The nine day event had its flagging off in Nakuru County by Kenyan Sports minister Amina Mohamed and it’s safe to say that everyone has been looking forward to its return, as it’s the rally that put East Africa on the Motorsport map. Sponsorship of this 10th edition of the classic rally is from Safaricom, which injected 6 million Kenyan shillings as an official sponsor, Kenya Breweries Limited (KBL), and Victoria commercial bank also sponsoring the event with 10 million Kenyan shillings.
The celebrated event was last held in 2019, with Austrian Kris Rosenberger and navigator Nicola Bleicher coming out victorious. In 2017, Great Britain’s Richard Jackson and co-driver Ryan Champion in their Porsche 911 had a joint win with Kenya’s Carl Tundo and navigator Tim Jessop in their Triumph TR7. It is held biannually (every after a year) but was postponed in 2021 due to travel restrictions, lock-downs, and health concerns with the corona virus pandemic.
Since its inception in 2003, the classic rally is considered one of the toughest rallies in the world, with extremely tough terrains, extremely long and tedious on drivers, making it an endurance race with consistency and persistency throughout for that win. It will cover a competitive distance of 5000km in eleven counties running through three hundred sixty towns throughout Kenya. It won’t run in Tanzania and Uganda as previously done due to logistical issues.
With participation/entries from twelve countries across the world, Kenya is looking to really boost its tourism sector with more exposure after the tremendous success of the WRC Safari rally in 2021 to different parts of Kenya where the routes are marked out like Nakuru, Naivasha, Laikipia, Taita hills Nanyuki, Kilifi, Kajiado, and Watamu where it will end. With Kenya having the most driver representation with a total of 22drivers, the Kenyans are looking forward to getting a podium finish for their hosting country. Great Britain is second with eight drivers representing, United States of America with three, Russia, Portugal, and Belgium with two each, Italy, Austria, Hong Kong, Sweden, South Africa, Netherlands, and Ireland with one each. In 2003, it was won by Kenya’s Rob Collinge and navigator Anton Levitan in their Datsun 240Z, as Kenya has the most wins with five wins, twice by the iconic Ian Duncan.
In its start list for leg one, there were 26entries including the champion from Austria Tuthill Porsche’s Kris Rosenberger navigated by Nicola Bleicher in their Porsche 911 setting off as the first flag off. Menangai Oil Racing team’s Carl Tundo and co-driver Tim Jessop in their Triumph TR7 hoping for a podium finish for Kenya, Kabras racing’s Baldev Charger and co-driver Drew Sturrock in their Porsche 911, from Sweden-Tuthill Porsche’s Patrik Sandell and co-driver Henrik Bolinder in their Porsche 911, Kenyan celebrated winner and Minti Motorsports UK’s Ian Duncan and navigator Anthony Neilsen in their Rover Vitesse are also in the first on the track.
Two time Safari rally winner Lee Rose and co-driver Douglas McNeil in their Ford Escort R5 1800 representing Kenya are also looking to cement their name in the classic event. South Africa’s Dansport’s seasoned Geoff Bell navigated by Tim Challen of Kenya in their Datsun 240Z are representing the southern part of Africa. American great Ken Block is also competing in the event with longtime navigator Alex Gelsomino in their Porsche 911 made in 1984; many rally fans were excited to see Block in testing on various social media posts. Representing Hong Kong, Phillip Kadoorie navigated by Great Britain’s former winner Ryan Champion also in a Porsche 911.
Porsche has the most car entries in the event with 16, Ford has 14, Datsun has 9, Skoda, Renault, Triumph have 2 each, and one from Rover. Everyone is looking forward to see how the rally will unfold.
