Tråd: 2011 East African Safari klassisk Rally-en Porsche 911 til slutt vinner?

Mange rally entusiaster anser East African Safari Rally, som har pågått kontinuerlig siden 1953, å være best av alle rally, selv eclipsing Monte Carlo Rally. Safari Rally ble droppet fra WRC serien i 2003, men har fortsatt som en regional hendelse.

I 2003 den opprinnelige East African Safari Rally (EASR) ble gjenopplivet som en klassisk rally og har kjørt hvert andre år siden. Tidligere VM-mester Bjørn Waldegård, som vant VM-Safari Rally fire ganger, og vant også i 2007 East African Safari Classic i en Ford Escort Mk 1. I 2009 Svensken kom tilbake med en Porsche 911. Etter en nær hendelse han hadde til å være fornøyd med en andre plass som Ian Duncan, en lokal Kenyanske rally sjåfør, tok topps, kjører en Ford Mustang.

Porsche har hatt mange rally suksess, men det har aldri vunnet Safari Rally, selv om sportsmodellen 911 har nummer to et par ganger.

Porsche fans håper dette året vil bli annerledes. Så langt, er ikke mindre enn 17 Porsche 911 rallybiler angitt for 2011 Kenya Airways EASR arrangementet, som finner sted fra november 19-28. Det vil være masse tøff rally kjøring på fartsetapper i Kenya og Tanzania for aktører som må kjøre pre-1976 biler.

Det er spesiell tur pakker tilgjengelig for publikum som ønsker å delta. Jeg har dekket rally to ganger i 1980 og 1981 og vet av erfaring at det er en fantastisk måte å se en stor rally og nyte vise dyreliv som Kenya har så mye å tilby. Faktisk blir midt hendelsen hviledag holdt i den berømte Amboseli Game Reserve ved foten av Mount Kilimanjaro. Detaljer kan finnes på EastAfricanSafariRally.com.

2009 action bilder-Courtesy of 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