East African Safari Cla*sic Rally: Ian Duncan powers Datsun into top 10

Three Kenyan drivers are comfortably in the top 10 of the East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) which entered it’s halfway stage at Nairobi’s Tamarind Tree Hotel, the venue for the next two nightstops.

Ian Duncan, who closed Tuesday’s day three proceedings in 12th, gained two positions to settle for 10th on the fourth day of the gruelling 4000km race.

Navigated by Jaspal Matharu in a Flying Sausage Datsun 280Z Duncan checked into Tamarind nightstop with a cumulative total time of 08:45:33.4.

Baldev Singh Chager in a Porsche 911 maintained a steady drive into the end of the first half of the 8-leg event brimming with confidence. Chager retain second position behind overnight leader Eugenio Amos of Italy who has taken charge of the pats two days.

Chager is currently trailing the leader by an 18:44.4minutes margin after four days characterized by inclement weather on some sections including day two’s fifth section which was cancelled after being adjudged impassioned by Clerk of the course Renzo Bernardi.

The all-Kenyan crew of Rajesh Maini and Devan Budhia maintained top 10 spot into the fourth day behind the wheel of the iconic Ford Escort Mk1.

Meanwhile, the EASCR will take a day’s break on Thursday at Tamarind Tree Hotel before resuming action on Day 6 from Nairobi to Amboseli and through to the Amboseli Sopa Lodge which will count as the event’s fifth nightstop.

Thursday will see crews have a  day to regroup , rest and remedy any problems their classic contraptions may have picked on the tough Safari classic roads.

This year’s event has been characterized by the ongoing rains which have handed teams a taste of the old Safari type on some of the nostalgic routes that Kenya has had to offer over the years.

Even though its a rest day for the drivers and navigators on Thursday, the team’s service crews have a lot of work to do on their respective rally cars.

Navigator Assad Mughal of ALS team said: “Our service crew are our unsung heroes for their meticulous work on our three rally cars. What’s more, they’re driving for many kilometres to ensure all is well and the team runs it’s campaign seamlessly. They get little sleep, work in the dust and mud, and never complain.

On the Rey day they’ll not rest as they will spent time fixing the damage.

Several cars have taken quite a beating on the rough Safari roads and it will be interesting to see how mechanics go about their experiences in service.