Clerk of the Course, Raju Chaggar during the launch of East African Safari Rally Classic at The Standard Media Group centre on Monday, January 17, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]
The tenth edition of East African Safari Classic Rally (EASCR) to be held on February 10-18 has 20 new stages.
This has been confirmed by the Clerk of Course Raju Chaggar who spend nine days inspecting the 5000km route that snakes it’s way from the rough terrains of Naivasha to the pristine sandy beaches of Watamu, Kilifi County.
“The course has new routes, out of the 24 stages 20 are entirely new,” Chaggar told Standard Sports.
The longest section is 120km of competitive rallying while the shortest is 30km. Most stages have an endurance stretch of about 8-9km with the crews expected to cover about 4-600km per day.
Due to safety reasons, the event will mostly traverse private conservancies meaning the drivers will have a breath of fresh air and no traffic.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLFmK7KPpQo
“The only traffic they should expect are wild animals including the giraffes, antelopes, elephants, buffalos among others grazing beside the roads,” says Chaggar.
The competitors have been warned not to get out of their cars should they experience a mechanical mishap during the race.
“They should wait for the safety teams deployed and spread throughout the stages for help out,” said Chaggar.
Due to Covid-19 protocols, the rally which has attracted 50 drivers from 17 nationalities will be held entirely in Kenya. There will be no Uganda and Tanzania routes as it has been the tradition.
“Holding the event in Kenya will give the drivers an opportunity to visit other new places as the competition will traverse 11 counties,” Chaggar said.
The competition will start in Naivasha, Nakuru County on February 10 then will head to Elgeyo Marakwet County where it will pass through the scenic Kerio Valley; the bedrock of athletics and home to paragliding.
The drivers will then return back to Nakuru.
The race will then head towards the rail-town of Nanyuki where the competitors will have a glimpse of the iconic Mt. Kenya.
“They will then battle in a very challenging terrain in Laikipia North, after which we will make our way down to the Amboseli ecosystem,” added Chaggar.
Discussion about this post