Tråd: 2011 East African Safari Classic Rally-vinder en Porsche 911 endelig?

Mange rally-entusiaster overveje East African Safari Rally, der har kørt uafbrudt siden 1953, til at være den bedste af alle stævner, selv formørkelsesvariable Monte Carlo Rally. Safari Rally, var faldet fra WRC-serien i 2003, men har fortsat som en regional begivenhed.

I 2003 den oprindelige East African Safari Rally (EASR) blev genoplivet som en klassisk rally og har kørt hvert andet år siden. Tidligere WRC champion Björn Waldegård, hvem der har vundet WRC Safari Rally fire gange, vandt også i 2007 East African Safari Klassiker i en Ford Escort Mk 1. I 2009 Svensker tilbage med en Porsche 911. Efter en tæt begivenhed, han var nødt til at være tilfreds med andenpladsen som Ian Duncan, en lokal Kenyanske rally-driver, tog topkarakterer, kører i en Ford Mustang.

Porsche har haft mange rally succes, men det har aldrig vundet Safari Rally, selv om 911s er færdig med anden et par gange.

Porsche-fans håber, at dette år vil være forskellige. Så langt, ikke mindre end 17 Porsche 911 rally biler, der er blevet indtastet for 2011-Kenya Airways EASR begivenhed, som vil finde sted fra Nov 19-28. Der vil være masser af hård rally kørsel på særlige faser i Kenya og Tanzania for de deltagere, der skal køre pre-1976 biler.

Der er en særlig tour pakker til rådighed for tilskuerne, der ønsker at deltage. Jeg har dækket rally to gange i 1980 og 1981, og ved af erfaring, at det er en fantastisk måde at se en stor rally, og også nyder at se vilde liv, som Kenya har så meget at byde på. I virkeligheden mid-event resten dagen bliver afholdt i den berømte Amboseli Game Reserve ved foden af Mount Kilimanjaro. Fuldstændige oplysninger kan findes på EastAfricanSafariRally.com.

2009 action billeder - Udlånt af McKlein Imagedatabase

Many rally enthusiasts consider the East African Safari Rally, which has been running continuously since 1953, to be the best of all rallies, even eclipsing the Monte Carlo Rally. The Safari Rally was dropped from the WRC series in 2003, but has continued as a regional event.

In 2003 the original East African Safari Rally (EASR) was revived as a classic rally and has run every other year since. Former WRC champion Björn Waldegård, who won the WRC Safari Rally four times, also won the 2007 East African Safari Classic in a Ford Escort Mk 1. In 2009 the Swede returned with a Porsche 911. After a close event he had to be satisfied with second place as Ian Duncan, a local Kenyan rally driver, took top honors, driving a Ford Mustang.

Porsche has had many rally success but it has never won the Safari Rally, although 911s have finished second a few times.

Porsche fans are hoping this year will be different. So far, no less than 17 Porsche 911 rally cars have been entered for the 2011 Kenya Airways EASR event, which will take place from Nov 19-28. There will be plenty of tough rally driving on special stages in Kenya and Tanzania for entrants who have to be driving pre-1976 cars.

There are special tour packages available for spectators wishing to attend. I have covered the rally twice in 1980 and 1981 and know from experience that it is a tremendous way to see a great rally and also enjoy viewing wild life as Kenya has so much to offer. In fact the mid-event rest day is being held in the famous Amboseli Game Reserve at the base of Mount Kilimanjaro. Full details can be found at EastAfricanSafariRally.com.

2009 action photos – Courtesy of McKlein Imagedatabase