16 June 2005
HUSBAND & WIFE
EMBARK ON EAST AFRICAN ADVENTURE
The Australian-born husband and wife team of Steve and Rachael Coad are
set to embark on another ambitious challenge as they prepare to compete
in the world’s greatest classic car event, the 2005 East African Safari
Rally. The couple, who now live in Singapore, will contest this marathon
event - only their third on gravel - in a 1973 Holden Torana GTR, lining
up against legendary former World Rally Champions Juha Kankkunen and
Stig Blomqvist.
Following the celebrated running of its 50th anniversary in 2003, the
East African Safari Rally returns in 2005 and the event will run from
1-10 December. The world’s greatest classic car rally will cover a
marathon 4,200 kilometres over nine days and once again take the crews
through the remote and beautiful landscapes of Kenya and Tanzania. The
East African Safari Rally commemorates the original Coronation Safari, a
unique event run by enthusiasts to celebrate the Coronation of Queen
Elizabeth in 1953. In 1960 the event was renamed the East African Safari
Rally, running annually until 1972, and, in keeping with the sense of
history, only cars produced before 31 December 1974 (or the exact same
car if built before 1978) are eligible to compete.
Both Steve and Rachael have been competing in rallies for the past 10
years and view the experience as stress relieving, rather than stress
enhancing! Their experience has mainly been based in the classic arena
in Australia, and primarily on Tarmac, where they have picked up class
and category victories. They have only previously contested two marathon
events - the 2002 Midnight Sun to Red Sea Rally and the 2004 London to
Sydney Marathon - where they finished sixth and 18th respectively in a
standard Opel Astra.
“We choose the East African Safari Rally as it is an event I have been
in awe of since I was a child,” said Steve. “We are probably nuts for
competing in this tough event with our modest gravel experience, but we
couldn’t let the opportunity pass when we realised there was a classic
version of the rally. We are building a 1973 Holden Torana GTR XU-1,
which is not the most ideal car to bring, but I wanted something unique
and something Australian with a local rallying heritage. It is light and
powerful with its 3.3 litre six-cylinder engine, but doesn’t have the
suspension travel or proven reliability in Africa to be a real results
contender. However I do guarantee it will be the only one in the field!”
The East African Safari Rally, which has been scheduled outside the
international rally calendar and during one of the most beautiful months
in East Africa, promises to be one of the greatest classic car rallies
of the modern era.
The event is sponsored by Minilite, WEC Lines and SDV Transami.
16 June 2005
JOHN LLOYD RETURNS TO EAST AFRICA TO CONQUER SAFARI
CLASSIC
London city insurance broker John Lloyd will be
competing in this year’s East African Safari Rally in a
1974 3-litre Porsche 911 prepared by Tuthill Porsche,
another momentous outing for the Briton whose interest
in rallying was sparked by a childhood in Kenya and many
years spent marshalling on the Safari Rally in the late
60’s and early 70’s. This is Lloyd’s second outing in
the East African Safari Rally. He was one of the leading
contenders in the 2003 event, but dramatically crashed
his Escort while holding seventh position in the final
leg.
Following the celebrated running of its 50th anniversary
in 2003, the East African Safari Rally returns in 2005
and the event will run from 1-10 December. The world’s
greatest classic car rally will cover a marathon 4,200
kilometres over nine days and once again take the crews
through the remote and beautiful landscapes of Kenya and
Tanzania. The East African Safari Rally commemorates the
original Coronation Safari, a unique event run by
enthusiasts to celebrate the Coronation of Queen
Elizabeth in 1953. In 1960 the event was renamed the
East African Safari Rally, running annually until 1972,
and, in keeping with the sense of history, only cars
produced before 31 December 1974 (or the exact same car
if built before 1978) are eligible to compete.
John Lloyd first started competing in the sport in 1995,
his career as a navigator beginning on the legendary
Safari Rally in a Peugeot 504. Despite business
commitments, Lloyd’s immediate passion for rallying led
him to start competing in historic events, where he
enjoyed a class and overall victory in his first two
outings. In 1996 however, he decided to try his hand at
driving and won the Iceland Historic Rally at the wheel
of the Escort he drove on the 2003 East African Safari
Rally. Fresh challenges awaited and John then progressed
to more modern machinery and the world stage, where the
highlight of his career has been finishing 14th overall
in the 1998 Safari Rally, when no fewer than five
manufacturers were fielding two-car entries. He has
competed in the FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship,
where he finished third overall in 2001, and this year
his focus is on campaigning a Subaru Impreza WRC in the
prestigious British Rally Championship.
The event, which has been scheduled outside the
international rally calendar and during one of the most
beautiful months in Africa, promises to be one of the
greatest classic car rallies of the modern era.
THE EAST
AFRICAN SAFARI RALLY IS BACK IN 2005!
Stig
Blomqvist commits to Safari classic
Following
the celebrated running of its 50th
anniversary in 2003, the East African Safari Rally
returns in 2005 and the event will run from 1-10
December. The world’s greatest classic car rally will
cover a marathon 4,200 kilometres over nine days and
once again take the crews through the remote and
beautiful landscapes of East Africa.
1984 World
Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist currently tops the early
list of entries and the Swede, who finished third on the
Safari Rally in 1989 in a VW Golf, will be co-driven by
Venezuelan Ana Goni. Rob Collinge, victor of the 50th
anniversary East African Safari Rally, will be back to
defend his title, this time trading his winning Datsun
240Z for 260Z machinery, while French businessman
Frederic Dor, who finished second in 2003, will also
return in his Porsche 911 competing against what is
hoped to be another impressive field of international
entries.
“The event
was an enormous success in 2003 and warmly received by
everyone as it truly embraced the essence of early
competition,” commented Event Director, Mike Kirkland.
“The pressure to organise a second event was huge!
Judging by all the comments we received though, there is
no question we are set for another fantastic rally that
provided good competition, exceptional camaraderie and
great fun.”
The East
African Safari Rally will once again start from beneath
the famous elephant tusks on Moi Avenue, Mombasa, Kenya,
on 1 December, but in 2005 the event is scheduled to
cover more competitive kilometres in Tanzania, before
returning to Kenya and the finish on the picturesque
Diani Beach on 10 December.
The East
African Safari Rally commemorates the original
Coronation Safari, a unique event run by enthusiasts to
celebrate the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953. In
1960 the event was renamed the East African Safari
Rally, running annually until 1972, and, in keeping with
the sense of history, only cars produced before 31
December 1974 (or the exact same car if built before
1978) are eligible to compete.
The 2005
East African Safari Rally, which has been scheduled
outside the international rally calendar and during one
of the most beautiful months in East Africa, promises to
deliver yet more stunning and memorable action,
underlining its status as one of the greatest classic
car rallies of the modern era.
For
competitors wishing to receive further information and
an entry form, please visit the website at
www.eastafricansafarirally.com, or contact:
Mike
Kirkland
Chairman &
Event Director
Tel:
+254
41 475074/5/6
Fax: +254
41 473533/474947
E-mail:
kirkland@eastafricansafarirally.com
Entries opened on 1 July 2004 and will close on 11
November 2005.
The event is
supported by Minilite Wheels.
For further
media information, please contact:
Hayley
Maxfield
Press Officer
East African Safari Rally
Tel: +44 (0)1483 459555
GSM: +44 (0)7887 508890
E-mail:
hayleymaxfield@dial.pipex.com
