A total of 46 cars will be flagged off this morning at the Naivasha Service Park for the 10th edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) to run for the next eight days over 20 new stages.
Clerk of Course Raju Chaggar who spent nine days inspecting the 5000km route that snakes it’s way from the rough terrains of Naivasha to the pristine sandy beaches of Watamu, Kilifi County confirmed the addition of 20 new stages at this year’s edition.
Some of the counties that are set get a glimpse of the action include Nakuru, Laikipia, Kajido, Taita, and Kilifi among others.
The classic rekindles the spirit of the original Safari Rally, which puts Kenya and East Africa on the global motorsport map and earned an unassailable reputation as the world’s toughest rally.
“The course has new routes, out of the 24 stages 20 are entirely new,” Chaggar said at a recent function.
The longest section is 120km of competitive rallying while the shortest is 30km. Most stages have an endurance stretch of about 8-9km with the crews expected to cover about 4-600km per day.
Due to safety reasons, the event will mostly traverse private conservancies meaning the drivers will have a breath of fresh air and no traffic.
“The only traffic they should expect are wild animals including the giraffes, antelopes, elephants, buffalos among others grazing beside the roads,” says Chaggar.
The competitors have been warned not to get out of their cars should they experience a mechanical mishap during the race.
“They should wait for the safety teams deployed and spread throughout the stages for help out,” said Chaggar.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, the rally which has attracted 46 drivers from 17 nationalities will be held entirely in Kenya. There will be no Uganda and Tanzania routes as it has been the tradition previously.
“Holding the event in Kenya will give the drivers an opportunity to visit other new places as the competition will traverse 11 counties,” he said.
After today’s flagging off, the cars will head to Elgeyo Marakwet County where it will pass through the scenic Kerio Valley; the bedrock of athletics and home to paragliding. The drivers will then return back to Nakuru. The race will then head towards the rail-town of Nanyuki where the competitors will have a glimpse of the iconic Mt. Kenya.
“They will then battle in a very challenging terrain in Laikipia North, after which we will make our way down to the Amboseli ecosystem,” added Chaggar.
