SAFARI RALLY RESURRECTS AFTER FIVE-YEAR FREEZE

Three…two…goes the count,  as the Kenyan Vice President Hon. Moody Awori holds the Kenyan flag to start off this year’s KCB safari Rally. With him is the Minister for sports, Hon. Maina Kamanda

A driver and his co-driver rush into their car to start off

Story by Alex Maina and John K Maina            Click here for more pictures
Photography by John K Maina
NAIROBI, KENYA: Saturday, 03/17/2007
Last weekend, the popular tough battle of “man and machine” against the forces of nature came back to life in Nairobi, Kenya.  This was during the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) sponsored rally that took place in the treacherous plains of the sunny East African country.
 
As the drivers hit their accelerators, over 11,000 frenzied fans lined up the entire safari route, partying and cheering their favorite drivers.  The swelling crowds were reminiscent of Kenya back at the World Championship Series, before this sporting East African country was scrapped off the rally list by International organizers due to dwindling sponsorship. 

The rally was also the first round of the newly introduced Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC).  Locals greeted this IRC Kenya leg like the biblical “manna from heaven.”  They saw it as an   opportunity to prove that the Safari Rally still occupied its rightful place in the World Series.  Talking to some fans at the rally, ajabuafrica.com learnt that Kenyans were hopeful of a continued show of force in the rally legs ahead.   Additional IRC series are scheduled for Italy, Switzerland, Turkey, Portugal, Belgium, Czech Republic, and Russia. 
 

The ultra-famous comical Kenyan folk dance group, Zangalewa, entertain the cheerful crowds

Italian duo, G. Pirollo and U. Scandola, take their final instructions before starting off

Conrad Rautenbach, a twenty-year old Zimbabwe national, won the grueling car racing event by crossing the finishing line first.  This was after the second leg, trailed by just a few cars that managed to survive the first leg from Lake Elementaita Lodge, back to Nairobi.  Rautenbach, whose father, Billy Rautenbach won the 1992 Caltex Equator rally in Kenya, was navigated by Peter Mash.

As the battle through Kenya plains intensified, Kenya’s Carl Tundo almost took the event but was a few minutes behind Rautenbach, the diminutive youngster from Zimbabwe. Due to overheating problems, Kenya champion Lee Rose had to quit the race in the wheat lands of the Elementaita section. This section also saw the exit of Alistair Cavenagh, one of the fastest drivers, as well as Riyaz Kurji of Uganda. While narrating his ordeal to ajabuafrica.com, Kurji had this to say:
 “I broke my first arm in CS2 after hitting a rut but continued. On the next
stage, however, I hit another rut and suffered a puncture.  The car couldn’t take it anymore and I had to retire.”

Kenya’s exciting driver, Steve Gacheru, co-driven by Dennis  Kinoti, scrambled out of their  Subaru Imprezza and scampered for  safety after their  car caught fire. This first leg also saw Uganda’s Emmanuel Kato put up a spectacular performance.

Notable absentees from this event were Tanzanian drivers, who are otherwise known for their competitiveness on rally events.  The race saw a lot drivers drop out of the race due to problems ranging from engine trouble to mechanical breakdowns. Other Kenyan divers like Baldev Charger, Asad Anwar, Sammy Aslam, and Susheel Shah, though no match for Zimbabwe’s Rautenbach finished the race in style.

Conrad, driving a Subaru Imprezza clocked in 2:3043, followed by Kenya’s Carl Tundo, co-driven by Tim Jessop, also in a Subaru Imprezza, at  2:32.54. Italy’s Andrea Navarra/Guido d’Amore, Italian, Fiat Punto, came in third. They were followed by 4. Hidieki Miyoshi and Hakaru Ichino of Japan, Mistubishi Lancer EV9, 2:40.03; 5. Muna Singh and David Sihoka, Zambia, Subaru Imprezza, 2:42.51; 6. Baldev Chager/ Farak Yusuf, Subaru Imprezza, 2:44.43; 7. Asad Anwar and Nick Patel, Mistubishi Lancer Evo 8, 2:4522; 8. Sammy Aslam and Abdul Sidi, Mistubishi Lancer Evo 8, 2:45.30; 9. Patrick Emonstpool and Benoit Daubie, Subaru Imprezza, 2:49.49; 10. Susheel Shah and Mohammed Kana, Subaru Imprezza, 2:56.19.  

Kenya’s Asad Anwar, co-driven by Nick Patel, gets behind the wheel to start off

Car with Kenyan driver speeds off

Local Kenyan drivers, who footed their own bills to participate in the event, gave the   well-funded foreign drivers a run for their money. Drivers from Italy, Belgium, Zambia, Uganda and Japan, were dismayed by how good the cash-strapped Kenyans displayed their steering skills. 

Apart from a chance to “rub wheels” with topnotch world rally aces, Kenyans expect the IRC series to give their country some good on-screen exposure.  Eurosport, the official sponsor of the IRC, estimates 350 million viewers worldwide.  With such immense viewer statistics, the series will most likely help reincarnate the Safari Rally from its recent five-year freeze.

The KCB-sponsored rally is also vying for a spot in the 2008 World Championship calendar, as a second round of the Africa Championship.  Starting off as a two-leg affair in the grounds of Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC) in Nairobi, the race ended its first leg at the beautiful Elementaita Lodge.  Four cars never made it there, something not very unusual in the Kenyan rally circuits.

EDITORIAL NOTE: ajabuafrica.com would like to congratulate the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) for taking a leading role as the main sponsor of this very important rally event.  We have high hopes that an event of this caliber will  go a long way in recreating interest in the Safari Rally, and hopefully, pave the for the reestablishment of the defunct East African Safari Rally.   We call upon other companies to take up the challenge set up by KCB, and sponsor the cash-strapped Kenyan drivers in next year’s event.  A form of corporate responsibility will be a big step in complementing the efforts of our fast-growing  East African Community.    Umoja Ni Nguvu!

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