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Mombasa final test gorunds for Classic Rally drivers

Mombasa is final testing venue as drivers head for the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally on 24 November.

A host of cars from KQ-sponsored rally will be in action at the Coast to test cars for one of the toughest rallies in the world to kick off in less than three weeks’ time.

Mombasa, home to the KQ-sponsored rally ever since the rally was first ran in 2003, will play host to not only the competitors but also to the officials who are trying to finalise their duties before the rally kicks off later this month.

Surinder Thatthi and Ashok Bhalla are in the final stages of sorting out accommodation and travel facilities for all the competitors and officials. Bhalla was in Taita Hills Lodge last weekend where he was able to also test the newly-acquired radios.

Thatthi said he was very happy with the tests after talking to Bhalla from his rally secretariat in Nairobi. The communication system is part of a Shs.2m budget spent by the organizers to move alongside the latest technology. Other equipments include the timing systems to be used by the Controllers.

On the grounds, the Coast Rally should provide ideal terrain and altitude conditions to the drivers testing their cars for the KQ-sponsored rally.

Ian Freestone will try his Ford Escort after arriving from England last week. He will be navigated by Mombasa-based Crispin Sassoon. He will be joined Aslam Khan who will also test a similar car.

Meanwhile, the 2007 Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally continues to gather support as more drivers secure sponsors for the world’s toughest event.

A former leading national navigator-now-turned driver, Marzio Kravos an Italian restaurant in Nairobi to help to him tackle the KQ-sponsored event to kick off from Mombasa on 25 November.
“I am very grateful Osteria Del Chianti to help me with my plans. The event requires lots of help from such companies in order to prevail in one of the toughest rallies in the World,’’ said Marzio

He will drive a Mercedes Benz powered by a 4500cc engine and able to produce up to 280bhp at the highest speeds.

“I have done lots of work on the car. A top-five finish would be a good result for me,’’ Kravos said.
Kravos was one of the leading Kenya National Rally Championship navigators during the early 80s when he partnered the late Greg Criticos notably in a Lancia Rallye 037. The car was regarded as among the most powerful machines to ever grace the local scene.

Though they virtually won all the rounds of the KNRC over a span of two years starting in 1985, they missed out on the overall title in 1986 after losing by a single point to the late Johnny Hellier in a similar car. The Zimbabwe Rally victory in 1986 was among the major achievements for the crew outside Kenya.

Unfortunately, Kravos was forced out of action in 1986 after he was involved in a near fatal accident while helping the late Shekhar Mehta during the Ivory Coast Rally. He sustained serious injuries when their chase car was involved in a head crash with one of the local cars.

“The revival of the Safari Classic Rally in 2003 gave me the urge and itch of getting back into action.
The old style of rallying was a major temptation which I could not resist.

The 2003 KQ-sponsored event was my first rally since the accident. I finished in the 18th place after we were forced to replace the engine in the Mercedes 200 while I was lying in the 10th place,’’ Kravos said.

The plan for the KQ-sponsored event 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.