Chager first off the ramp as East Africa Classic Rally starts
By People Reporter, November 27, 2019
Special Correspondent
Safari Rally winner, Baldev Chager and Ravi Soni will lead off first in the 2019 Safaricom East African Safari Classic Rally that is set to be flagged-off this morning in Mombasa.
The crew are sone of the 20 sets of drivers, who are expected to tackle the nine-day rigorous event that will cover 4500 kilometres and is divided into 24 competitive stages. Of the total, 1,700 kilometres will be of the competitive distance.
On any given day of the rally, crews will be expected to cover between 390 and 500km (combined distance of stage and transport). Tanzania will host two of the longest competitive stages.
One is of 150kms while the other is 157kms. The longest stage will be 160kms while the shortest will be 60kms. Each day, the rally consists of three competitive stages, and transport or liaison sections.
Apart from Safaricom, which is the main sponsor of the nine-day competition, DT Dobie, Bidco Africa and Vivo Energy have also joined in as co-sponsors of the Rally.
Ian Duncan, who has won the East African Safari Classic Rally on two different occasions, is seeded at number three in a Ford Vitesse, which is making its rally debut.
The final stage of the competition will be done at the Mombasa Cement on December 6, where the first car will be expected to drive in at 12 noon at the event head quarters, Whitesands Hotel.