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Kenya Airways will sponsor the third edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally

Kenya Airways will sponsor the third edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally to be staged in November.

One of Africa's leading Airlines announced a package to secure the title sponsorship during a function held yesterday at the Panari Hotel in Nairobi. The deal will go towards supporting what is regarded as one of the toughest rallies in the world.

"Kenya Airways is happy to come back on board to support the East African Safari Classic Rally having been partners in the first event in 2003. Kenya Airways will long way with one of the best rallies in the world,'' said Titus Naikuni, Managing Director and CEO of Kenya Airways.

"Kenya's image as one of the World's leading countries in tourism and wildlife, will be boosted by the Kenya Airways move to support the rally. It will play a major role in the route plan of the nine-day event that will start and finish in Mombasa'' said Surinder Thatthi, the Event Director.

He said "the format of the rally will be four days of competition with rest halt in the famous Amboseli National Park in the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro. This will be followed by another four days of competition before the cars head for the finish on the sandy beaches north of Mombasa."

World famous Amboseli Game Reserve will host two days of the competition when the rally passes by the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro on its way to Tanzania.

Former Safari Rally winner and idol, Bjorn Waldegaard of Sweden is among the list of 29 cars that have already entered the rally. He has entered this year's edition in a Ford Escort Mark1 prepared and run by David Sutton of the Historic Motor Sport.

The Swede, one of the greatest Safari Rally drivers of all time, will tackle the event for the second time running after a heroic effort in 2005 when he eventually finished 7th Overall.

The list of other star drivers includes former World Rally champion Swede Stig Blomqvist and Venezuelan co driver Anna Goni, who finished second in 2005. They will drive a Ford Escort Mark I prepared and run by Historic Motorsport run by David Sutton in the UK.

Frederic Dor from Switzerland who finished third in 2005 has entered his Porsche 911 and will be serviced by Francis Tuthill. Australian Graham Alexander in a Datsun 240Z, who finished fifth in the 2005 edition.

Early leader of the 2005 Classic Safari, Gerard Marcy and Alain Lopes of Belgium have swapped their car Ford Escort with a Porsche 911 (prepared by Francis Tuthill) while Richard Martin-Hurst and Tony Devantier from England will return to the event in their familiar Ford Capri Perana.

Another regular Gunther Kronseder and Gerd Petzold from Germany have shelved their Opel Manta and will now drive a Mercedes 450SLC.

Kenyan resident Italian Stefano Rocca has purchased the Datsun 240Z from double winner Rob Collinge. He will tackle his first event in the car. He will spearhead the local interest which will also include Aslam Khan, Marzio Kravos and Bob Kaugi.

Complete new comers to the East African Safari Classic Rally event in 2007, will be David and Sarah Rayner from England in a Ford Capri 2.6, Kurt Vanderspinnen and Roes Bart from Belgium have entered a Volvo 142S, and Ian and Val Swan from Australia have entered but not specified which car they will rally.

The 2005 event received a massive Television and Print Media audience from around the world. A 52-minute film of the event was also shown a record 11 times on DSTV throughout Africa, Middle East including Kenya.