Updates for the 2017 edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally

Providing a crucial gateway between East Africa and the international community, Kenya Airways is the perfect partner for the Safari Classic Rally. A valued patron since 2011, Kenya Airways supports the rally as one of its key sponsorship initiatives. Safari Classic gives participants an adventure across East Africa, while also offering spectators a spectacular opportunity to travel across the region. Supporters cheer on their favourite teams while also enjoying the often life-changing experience of visiting East Africa.

“Our unique event is held in high esteem by the global rallying family,” notes Safari Classic Rally director, Raju Kishinani. “Combining the positive challenges of historic motorsport with a wonderfully social atmosphere and the timeless charm of East Africa, this legendary endurance rally requires a special partner to radiate its message worldwide. Who better than Kenya Airways to honour this role? We are humbled by their continued support.”

Kishinani’s sentiments are echoed by rally chairman, JS Vohra. As the CEO of Sarova Hotels, which owns many of East Africa’s most famous tourist resorts and safari lodges, Vohra is acutely aware of how important the entire visitor experience is to the rally’s reputation and its international clientele.

“The competitor’s journey to the chequered flag begins as soon as they set off for Kenya,” says Vohra. “The Safari Classic Rally aims to provide a unique and enchanting experience for all of our clients and their travelling partners. We choose to connect with commercial partners who share this ambition and at the top of that list is Kenya Airways. We are delighted to have their support for another exciting Safari Classic event."

The loss of BMA driver, Gérard, and concern for his co-driver, Freddy Delorme, led to the BMA team’s retirement as a mark of respect for their team mates. The retirees included Gregoire de Mevius and co-driver Alain Guehennec, who had been enjoying a close battle in their Porsche 911 RS against 2017 Safari Classic Rally entrant, Philippe Gache, and reigning Safari Classic champion co-driver, Stéphane Prevot, in the Mazda RX7.

As the rally entered its closing stages, Gache held the overall lead, with a three-minute gap to the Sunbeam Lotus of Barrile/Chiappe, which was ahead of another confirmed Safari Classic Rally crew: Jorge Perez-Companc and Jose Volta in the Ford Escort RS 1800, prepared at Viking Motorsport.

Behind the Escort lay a familiar car and driver combination: Safari Classic regular, Andrew Siddall and his Datsun 240Z, co-driven for this event by Gary McElhinney. In fifth place overall and just six seconds behind the 240Z was the hard-charging Porsche 911 RS of Belgium’s Joost van Cauwenberge and Steven Vyncke. Joost’s car hails from the Tuthill Porsche stable, and our good friend Francis was also in Morocco with Joost. The 911 took overall victory on last year’s Rally of the Incas and was challenging for a podium here.

As so often happens within sight of the chequered flag, the cards of chance were shuffled. The RX-7 was forced to retire, allowing the Sunbeam to claim final honours, flanked by the Escorts of Perez-Companc/Volta and Bell/Challen. Von Cauwenberge’s Porsche claimed a well-deserved fourth place, with Siddall’s Datsun in fifth.

"It was great to see a mix of machinery at the front of the field and so many other interesting cars down the order," said Raju at the finish. "Highlights included the Citroen SM Bandama confirmed for this year’s Safari Classic and a wonderful Lancia Stratos that may also be in Kenya. What an amazing event: well done to the Morocco Historic team."

"Morocco was such a great experience for us," said Tim. "The gravel was very smooth and I must admit we enjoyed every bit of it through to the closing control. Having participated in a number of competitions since 2015, we feel we are now in very good form. Chances are high that we will be on the podium in 2017."

Bell and Challen are well placed to succeed in this year’s Safari Classic. Their historic Datsun 260Z has been rested since its victory in the classic category of this year’s Safari Rally. The pair took a Dansport Escort to the third step of the Morocco podium, but the Datsun will be back for the Classic on November 23rd in Mombasa.

Can the duo claim the win that narrowly escaped them in 2011? Who will their strongest rivals be? So many questions as the excitement builds ahead of this year’s event!
Photo from the Morocco Historic website

This rather special Mini will be offered for sale at the Silverstone Classic Rally auction on July 27th. It is special because it competed on the East African Safari Rally, not once, but an amazing five times: in 1997, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Arriving back in the UK in 2004, it was put into storage until being purchased by Malcolm Huxley and Anne Sealand. They have recently completed a restoration to original 1997 livery, when the car entered its first Safari Rally, sponsored by Corgi Models.

Originally constructed in 1995 by Robert Plant Engineering (RPE Motorsport), the car is described as a fully documented Group A rally car, built to compete on the famous Network Q (RAC) rally. Its competition history also includes the Scottish Rally, Monteburge Rally Sprint in Belgium and Goodwood Festival of Speed rally stages. The car is already a legend, with many Corgi model sets inspired by the Mini. Read more details on the Silverstone Auctions site here.

If a supposedly fragile East German Trabant can successfully complete our challenging event, why not a classic Mini? That would be a great car to see in action here on Safari. All pre-’85 models built to FIA specifications are eligible for entry and they can even run power steering! Contact us to discuss your Safari questions.
Photos courtesy of Silverstone Auctions website

Few experiences compare to exploring the wilds of Kenya and Tanzania by following the legendary Safari Classic Rally through some of our planet’s most famous wildlife reserves and ecological wonders. Our official tour is a truly memorable East African experience.

Download details of the official Rally Tour and Safari here. Contact us for more information.

Ravi Chana is fizzing with excitement ahead of this year’s East African Safari Classic Rally, in which he will once again partner renowned Tanzanian rally driver, Jayant Shah.

While Ravi is a highly experienced navigator, with substantial rally mileage clocked up across two decades spent sitting in rally car cockpits, he acknowledges there is always something to learn when sitting alongside one of African rallying’s most experienced competitors. He is also conscious of his rallying heritage, for the seat that Ravi occupies was filled up to 2013 by the great Lofty Drews: part of Safari Rally history, thanks to his victory alongside Shekhar Mehta in 1973.

“Calling the tulips where Lofty once sat gives me great pride,” says Ravi. “When the Safari Classic going gets tough, it is Lofty’s energy that helps me endure this nine-day adventure. Jayant may now be in his seventies, but his record speaks for itself. I have enjoyed every minute of our partnership: especially in the Tanzanian championship. There is always a thing or two to learn from the old guard.”

Though the Shah/Chana partnership was formed many years ago, it was not until 2015 that a space on Safari Classic opened up next to Shah, when Lofty decided to call time on the Classic: an event he famously described as “an adventure before dementia”. Having won the 2wd navigator’s title in Tanzania alongside Jayant in 2013, Nairobi-based Chana was the obvious choice for the vacancy.

When younger, Ravi was mentored by his father and accomplished rally driver, the late Kulwant Singh Chana, before making his rally debut on the 1991 Guru Nanak. Though Chana’s competitive outings are presently confined to Kenya and Tanzania, he has also tackled the Ugandan championship, which is synonymous with hordes of spectators.

In the Kenyan championship, Ravi navigates younger brother, Jasmeet, whom he has successfully guided to several top ten positions. Previously, he navigated elder brother, Jaswinder, who has moved into team logistics and management. The pair scooped the 2012 Kenyan Group S title and Ravi has not rested on his laurels in the intervening years.

While the excitement is high ahead of this year’s Safari Classic Rally, Chana’s expectations are firmly in check. “To finish first, first you have to finish,” says Ravi. “We’ll aim for a trouble-free start, and then see where we are once everyone is into the groove. I trust in my partner and can’t wait to get started.”

Article by Samson Ateka

Known for his dogged determination, Shah chalked up a rare hat-trick of wins on the prestigious Himalayan Rally in his heyday: in 1983 and 1985 with Aslam Khan co-driving and 1984 with Lofty Drews.

Jayant has, of course, graced several WRC Safari rallies. In 1978 and ’79, Jayant entered the WRC Safari Rally in a Datsun 160J, finishing 9th in 1978 and 12th the year after, navigated on both events by Eisa Najeet.

1984 saw Jayant finish the WRC Rothmans Acropolis Rally with Mike Doughty, but the pair retired with engine gremlins on that year’s Safari. In 1985, Jayant participated in WRC Rally Argentina with Drews, the Rothmans Acropolis Rally with Doughty and then Safari with Ivan Smith, driving a Nissan 240 RS.

Jayant is one of the very few competitors who have participated in all editions of the Safari Classic Rally from 2003 to date. Lofty Drews was his co-driver from 2003-2013, and Ravi Chana stepped in from 2015. The partnership resumes for this year’s Classic, where the duo will once again use a Porsche 911 prepared by Tuthill Porsche.

Shah and Chana tested their Safari Classic Porsche 911 on the Kobil Kilimanjaro Rally of Tanzania and survived the demanding conditions to finish fourth overall.

We love to hear how our competitors and their crews came to Safari and the stories of your preparations and ambitions. We look forward to sharing all photos and stories across our channels between now and the start of the rally. Send your Safari stories tomedia.

The full Rally Regulations and the Official Entry Form for the 2017 East African Safari Classic Rally are both available for download here.

Other downloads include updates to the rally regulations, information on hotel upgrades, details of shipping to Mombasa with our partners and technical waiver request forms.

Email us with any questions regarding our rally or to discuss the 2017 event.