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KQ CLASSIC SAFARI PLANS REACH A CLIMAX

With the starting order list of the 2007 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally in its place, teams will now embark on their game plans for the event to start in November. It now sets the ball rolling for majority of the teams preparing to engage their drivers and mechanics in the marathon rally later this year.

Logistical plans for any team, be it professional or amateur; remain as one of the most taunting tasks of preparing for a rally especially of the caliber of the KQ-sponsored Classic Rally covering a distance of nearly 4500kms over a period of 10 days.

Bearing in mind the unforgiving terrains on either sides of Kenya and Tanzania, all plans have to be properly coordinated as success of any driver or competitor hinges on the way teams are efficiently able to act on their plans on the day of the competition.

The head of the Ford Historic Team David Sutton, visited Kenya last week to embark on his logistical plans for the team that will boost two world stars in his outfit. Swedes Bjorn Wadegaard and Stiq Blomqvist will spearhead the team's onslaught in their respective Ford Escorts.

While teams are restricted to maximum of four mechanics to work on any car at any given time, the toughest task is to make sure the mechanics and their service vans are at the right spot when the need for their expertise is vital. Any team found with an extra person working on the car, will stand to be penalized, according to the rules.

A team consisting of several vehicles carrying team managers, mechanics, spares, tyres and other equipments has to be properly positioned in order to work decisively. The vast area, on which the competition is spread, makes it a difficult venture but exciting and thrilling for many who enjoy the sport.

This year's rally is regarded as friendly to ensure mechanics do not go without sleep or get over worked by the teams.

The plan will include four days of competitions on each side of prolonged rest halts. The first break will be at the Amboseli Lodge by the slopes of Mount Kilimanjaro followed by another in Arusha before cars head for the finish on the sandy beaches north of Mombasa via Tanga.

There will be a ceremonial start on Saturday 24th November 2007 with a small spectator stage in Mombasa. The rally proper gets under way on the morning of Sunday 25th November 2007 at 6am in the morning.

Cars will pass through Nairobi, Naivasha, Nyahururu, Narok, Kajiado, Amboseli, Namanga, Arusha and Tanga among other places before returning to Mombasa via Lunga Lunga.
Separately, Event Director and Clerk of the Course Surinder Thatthi said he his route plans is ready.

Thatthi was confident of the job ahead regardless of what the weather holds in the coming days and during the competition.

Several 4x4 vehicles have been lined for the job as the date approaches for the KQ-sponsored event. One will move into the sections three days before the start of the event. The driver will report back to the rally headquarters incase of any changes to the terrains.

Another four vehicles will be deployed on the day of the competition. Two "route-openers" will be required to go into the sections few hours before the start of the KQ-sponsored event. Further two cars, acting as "sweepers" will move into action after the last rally car has gone into the section. They will act as rescue team to help those unable to get out of the stage for any reasons.

FIA Medical delegate, Dr. Harj Chaggar from England will head the medical team. He will be in a helicopter to be deployed within the areas of the competition, according to Thatthi.

Ashok Bhalla, one of the veteran rally organizers, will take charge of arrangements for hotel accommodations and logistics for the movement of officials. A total of 165 air tickets have been booked the foreign crews while 185 rooms for officials and competitors have been booked at various hotels.

A special team from the branding section will be in action prior to and during the competition to display advertising materials from sponsors Kenya Airways. Kenya's leading "Flyer" is the main sponsor of the 10-day rally.