About The East African Classic Safari Rally

After the loss of the Safari Rally from the World Rally Championship in 2002, rally enthusiasts led by Mike Kirkland and Surinder Thatthi decided to recreate the nostalgia of "The Safari" by reverting to the unique characteristics of the East African Safari Rally. The idea was to allow classic cars built before 1974 and to avoid the powerful turbo charged and 4WD drive cars. The stages, or sections would be longer and the service crews and back up would be limited just like in the early days.

Mike Kirkland successfully participated in the London Sydney marathon in 2004 and finished in third position. He always thought that a revival of the East African Classic Safari Rally would be a fantastic project.

In 2001 the East African Safari Rally Ltd was formed with Mike Kirkland, Surinder Thatthi and Mike Doughty.

The first event was planned and run in December of 2003.

The event had 53 entries and ran through Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania over a distance of 5000 Kilometres in ten days. Night stops were at exotic and famous hotels and lodges.

The second successful running was in 2005 and had 49 entries.

Both the 2003 and 2005 Classic Safari Rally events were won by, Kenyans Rob Collinge and Anton Levitan in a Datsun 240Z and 260Z respectively.

Is 2007 going to be the first win for an International crew? Time will tell.

In past East African Safari's, from 1953 to 1971, Kenyan drivers dominated the, event, winning consecutively. In 1972, Hannu Mikkola and Gunner Palm broke the 'jinx' and became the first overseas crew to win the event in a Ford Escort Mark1.

It seems the 'jinx' continues in the "Classic Rally"!!

Born 1947 in Nairobi, Mike has driven for factory teams in the safari rally for 18 years with his best results in 2nd overall in 1988 and 1989, and also having finished third three times. He is the founder of East African Safari Classic rally. He presently runs a very successful safari tour business in Mombasa.

SURINDER THATTHI
BORN IN 1958 , Surinder been a navigator with four African rally championship wins and numerous safari rally finishes with prominent drivers amongst them being Mike Kirkland in 1990 /91. He is also the FIA representative for Africa and has a seat on the FIA world council. In 2003 was the rally manager and in 2005 the clerk of course for the classic safari rally.

MIKE SUMMERFIELD
Another International Clerk of the Course and one of TWE's stalwarts having worked on every event and been responsible for preparing routes and Road Books on all of them. One of the great fixers and fettlers in long distance rallying. He was the Deputy Clerk of the Course for the classic safari rally in 2005.

RICHARD LEEKE
South African based rally and cross country rally champion navigator Richard Leeke, was the deputy clerk of course for the classic safari rally. His motor sport career spans 35 years, having navigated for the likes of Jimmy McRae, Tony Pond and Malcolm Wilson in South Africa for the then famous Castrol rally.

RAJU KISHINANI
Raju Kishinani - Born in 1959 is a passionate supporter of the East African Safari Rally and has had a life long desire to be involved ...firstly as a competitor which never materialised... and now has joined the team to ensure the growth and survival of this "Kenyan Heritage motor rallying event" A businessman in both Kenya and England and helps the event in all commercial matters.