Africa-Press – Kenya. Kenyan champion Baldev Chager remains the favourite to clinch the East African Mini Classic Rally title after leading the pack for the second day running in and around the Amboseli ecosystem.
Navigated by Ravi Soni in a Kabras Sugar Racing Porsche 911, Chager returned to Amboseli’s Ol Tukai Lodge with a cumulative total of 04:07:51.5 with only three stages to go on Saturday.
“Very nice day out, Stage 5 and 6 were extremely tricky, a lot of grass tracks, a lot of hidden and blind turns but we managed to get all but one, that’s how it is,” said Chager.
Ian Duncan leap-frogged Geoff Bell into second place overall with another strong push in the Rover V8 and is just under three minutes off top spot despite getting stuck in the fesh-fesh for two minutes.
“A pretty trouble-free run,” said the Rally Legend.
Despite being five minutes behind Chager and slipping down to third, Bell said: “The car was fantastic, the route was fantastic, I loved it.” Bell was hampered by two punctures in the fifth stage but highlighted another vehicle part as key to success on the third and final day — the windscreen washers.
Jumping up two places on the second day, driver of the only ladies team, Maxine Wahome summed up the very essence of the Classic Rally experience.
“Day 2 was a tough day, long day, long stages, wet, dry, slippery, rocky, everything was thrown at us, we had to change the gearbox,” she said.
Day 2 of the event covered 210 kilometres across Amboseli National Park’s open plains, acacia woodland and lava-strewn thornbush country. The day started in searing heat but ended in heavy storms breathing life into the scorched earth but giving the entrants differing challenges.
Classic competitors Ben Woodhams in a Ford Capri and Bob Sehmi in a Ford Escort MK2, were both victims of the rain after getting stuck in Stage 5. Piers Daykin was forced to retire his Datsun 280V with electrical problems while in fourth place and Asad Anwar’s Toyota Levin suffered mechanical issues.
In the Rally Raid, Michael Rose, leader on Day 1, pushed hard again but blew his engine on Stage 5 while Alasdair Keith had to retire his Land Rover 110 with persistent mechanical issues. Mark Glen will take a lead of over seven minutes into the final day ahead of Ross Field, both driving CRTs.
End of Day 2 Standings
1 Baldev Chager Porsche 911 04:07:51.5
2 Ian Duncan Rover V8 04:10:45.7
3 Geoff Bell Datsun 240Z 04:15:07.6
4 Raaji Bharij Ford Escort Mk2 04:26:12.7
5 Jonathan Somen Ford Escort Mk2 04:39:27.8
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