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KQ Classic to have the world's longest competitive stage in modern rallying

August 1, Nairobi, Kenya -As the clock ticks towards the start of the third Kenya Airways East African Classic Safari, November 25 to December 3 in Kenya and Tanzania, drivers are bracing themselves for some of the most demanding rally sections in modern rallying.
Events director Surinder Thatthi came to this conclusion after he officially concluded the route survey; two are in Tanzania and the others in the Kerio Valley and Taita Hills. They are a classic example of a living hell for drivers, spectacular view for spectators and a film maker paradise. The shortest planned by Kenya Airways is as a 'motorsport day out' for Nairobi residents will be 2km long at the East Africa Portland Cement Quarry, Athi River. However, the organizers are expected to revisit the route which will remain secret after the end of the short season rains later in this year. "But the road books should be out in a month's time," Thatthi added.
Besides the 4300km plus of rallying, drivers will tackle a 154km competitive section_ the longest in the 10-day marathon _ which is the equivalent of a national rally event in Kenya and even longer than a normal European rally counting towards the world championship. The section is between Lake Manyara via the Loibosot escarpment and back to Arusha overlooking the Ngorogoro Crater in Tanzania which will welcome the drivers into Tanzania. This crude introduction will be followed by the Usambara Mountains test, a 65km loop through an escarpment with 100 hair bin bends and sweeping corners. Ian Duncan was quickest through in 2005 driving a Ford Escort before he bowed out in the next section after the car rolled. The Kerio Valley and the 50Km Taita Hills sections make up three classical stages synonymous with the old-version of the Safari that put Kenya on the world rally map in the 60s and 70s.
"The Kerio Valley stretch will not go through Fluorspar area. It will revisit Kimwarer and Tenges areas and onward to Kipsaos," the Event Director added.
These sections have given the Safari its tag as the toughest in the world classic calendar." The Lake Manyara section is a spectacular 154.7Km stage waiting to rewrite history books when the event revs-off in the coastal city of Mombasa in November," said.
"The stage is a mix of virtually everything. It's twisty in some places and tends to transform into a high-speed affair then to a somewhat rougher drive as it progresses towards a hilly stretch.
"As the stage run wares-on, crews tackle an open speed area into the hills approximately 100Km south of Arusha. It then takes a rough and rocky trend near Lokisale before taking on to a flat-out stretch north of Manduli," said Surinder.
On the last day of the rally the route climbs up 75Km towards Usambara mountains with 100 corners that comprise some action-packed and intricate hairpin bends.