Blomqvist Maintains Classic Rally Lead- Safaricom EASCR
Sweden’s Stig Blomqvist today maintained his overall lead with one day to go, in the ongoing Safaricom East African Classic Safari Rally, despite 2nd placed Austrian Kris Rosenberger putting up a spirited fight at the top of the table after day 8 of the rally today.
Navigated by Jorgen Fornander in their Tuthill Porsche 911, Blomqvist’ earlier won the second stage 58.30Km Estate/Kileva but lost time in the 3rd stage 75Km Maungu/MC road after the steering wheel dumper broke 50Km into the section. He is leading the 16 competitors with a time of 12.11.43.
Rosenberger navigated by Nicola Bleicher in a Tuthill Porsche 911, have several times een at the helm of the leaderboard and they now lying 6 seconds behind the former WRC 1984 champion Blomqvist with a time of 12:11:49.8.
Kenya’s best placed top crew of Kabras Racing Team’s Onkar Rai/Drew Sturrock in a Porsche 911 are lying third overall with a time of 12:42:36.
Onkar however had a challenging day after his Porsche 911 clutch, slipped several times and also broke suspension in stage two. In the same stage, they had to stop 3 times because of animal traffic.
His brother, Tejveer Rai navigated by Gavin Laurence moved up two places on the leadersboard and are lying 8th, with Aslam Khan/Imran Khan who were time barred after breaking the steering arm of their Porsche 911, finishing the day in 10th place.
Baldev Chager won the first stage of the day, the CS19 40Km Sagala to Kirumbi posting the fastest time of 23.91 beating Italy Euginio Amos who won the 2nd stage of the day.
Kenyan ace driver Ian Duncan navigated by Anthony Nielsen are placed 15th overall after struggling with his Rover Vitesse experiencing mechanical problems but managed to repair the problem and resumed the rally today.
Besides Safaricom, Vivo Energy Kenya and Aviation Gas (Avgas) brands are the official sponsors of the rally. Other co-sponsors of the event are Whitesands Hotel, MFI, DPL Packaging Kenya, Bidco Africa and DT Dobie.
