KENYAN ROB COLLINGE CLAIMS LEAD
Blomqvist drops to fourth in East African Safari Rally
The all-Kenyan crew of Rob Collinge and Anton Levitan have claimed the lead in the East African Safari Rally after the third leg of this legendary event. The Datsun 260Z driver has had a virtually trouble-free run and has nearly 16 minutes in hand to second-placed Gerard Marcy. John Lloyd, who started fourth overnight, has climbed back into third in the Tuthill-prepared Porsche 911. Stig Blomqvist, who led for the opening two legs, has dropped back to fourth after problems in the first section of the day.
Late last night, the organisers took the decision to cancel CS8, where a number of crews got lost due to possible inconsistencies in the road book. Today, however, the third leg took in four competitive sections over 202.48 kilometres. The route took the crews north from Arusha for one final section in Tanzania, on the foothills of Mount Kilimanjaro, before crossing the border back into Kenya for the longest test of the event, the 105.12 kilometre run from Namanga to Kibini (CS12). After a further two sections, the crews arrived in Nairobi for the overnight halt on the outskirts of the capital city.
Collinge started the day in second position and won the opening section in Tanzania, where tough navigation over desert-like terrain saw a number of crews lost in the maze of tracks. Despite briefly losing their way, the Kenyan then benefited when Blomqvist lost time and the winner of the 2003 East African Safari Rally cruised into the lead.
"There were a lot of tracks in the opening section and we got a bit lost," said Collinge. "The day was then trouble-free until we hit a big rock in CS13, punctured and lost all the tread from the right rear tyre."
Gerard Marcy has climbed into second position in the leading Ford Escort. He and co-driver Alain Lopes have had an incident-free day and hold a healthy advantage going into the fourth leg. "We've had no problems all day; it's been a holiday so far and we're very happy," said Marcy.
John Lloyd regains third position in his Porsche 911, the Briton delighted with his overnight position. "The first section (CS11) was like an orienteering course! We've bent a few wheels but otherwise the day's been good. As Paul (navigator) said to me, 'when was the last time you started a special stage with Stig Blomqvist, Björn Waldegård and Juha Kankkunen behind you!'"
1984 World Rally Champion Stig Blomqvist has had a frustrating day in the Historic Motorsport Escort. "I thought we had a puncture in CS11 but in fact it was a broken rim," said fourth-placed Blomqvist. "We stopped to change it and the jack broke so it took a long time to change the wheel with spectators helping us. Then we got stuck in sand in a dry riverbed and lost around 25 minutes in the section. Not a great day," added the Swede, who then went on to set joint fastest time, with Kankkunen, in CS12.
Fifth position is held by Frenchman Frederic Dor, who also got lost in the opening section but went on to win CS14. "We got a bit lost and then broke a wheel," he said. "There were cars circling everywhere trying to find the right track and we got lost in the dust. The first part of CS12 was very tough on the suspension and it was flat-out for 40 kilometres; otherwise a good day for us."
Rounding off the top six is Iain Freestone in a Ford Escort. "We've been taking it steady as the car's falling apart! The track rod ends keep knocking out."
The other two former World Rally Champions and Safari Rally veterans competing in the event have however had a good day. Björn Waldegård showed his experience in the opening section (CS11), finishing second behind Collinge on what he regarded as the perfect Safari stage, and was then joint third in CS13, alongside Blomqvist. He and co-driver David Cavanagh overnight in seventh. Juha Kankkunen has been flying today in the Datsun 240Z, the Finn finishing third in CS11, winning CS12 and CS13, and claiming second in the final section of the leg. He and Juha Repo hold 14th position going into the fourth day of competition.
Monday (Leg 4) sees the crews head north of Nairobi and into the famed Masai Mara for another four competitive sections and 175.38 competitive kilometres. The route heads out towards Nakuru and the Delamere Estates for the first section of the day before heading to Narok and the Mara plain, awash with spectacular game. The crews then overnight in the Mara Simba Lodge after driving a total of 504.65 kilometres.
Leaderboard after Leg 3
1. Rob Collinge/Anton Levitan Datsun 260Z 6hr 30min 49sec 2. Gerard Marcy/Alain Lopes Ford Escort RS 6hr 46min 11sec3. John Lloyd/Paul Amandini Porsche 911 6hr 51min 48sec4. Stig Blomqvist/Ana Goni Ford Escort RS1600 6hr 55min 09sec5. Frederic Dor/Paul Howarth Porsche 911 6hr 58min 16sec6. Iain Freestone/Preston Ayres Ford Escort 7hr 02min 42sec7. Björn Waldegård/David Cavanagh Porsche 911 7hr 03min 25sec8. Simon Glover/Russ Langthorne Ford Escort 7hr 11min 22sec9. Graham Alexander/David Stewart Datsun 260Z 7hr 11min 50sec10. Anthony Ward/Ievan Thomas Ford Escort 7hr 17min 28sec
DRIVER QUOTES - LEG 3
2. Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch - EAK/EAK - Ford Escort RSThe Kenyans were unable to re-start this morning due to extensive damage to the car.
3. Juha Kankkunen/Juha Repo - FIN/FIN - Datsun 240Z"We've had a good day. There was a very difficult section in the middle of CS11 where we were circulating a bit, but with Juha's Dakar experience, he just said 'follow that heading!' We took it easy in CS12 for the first few kilometres on new tyres and other than a broken exhaust, our day's been great."
5. Björn Waldegård /David Cavanagh - S/RI - Porsche 911"CS11 was great fun; there was about 50 kilometres of real Dakar 'fech fech' (soft fine dust) and we overtook two cars but then got stuck behind Iain Freestone for 25 kilometers. But, for me, it was the perfect stage (the crew finished second). Then we had a puncture in CS12, which was a real shame, especially as so many people got lost in the stage before. The event is very much like the old Safari and gives us old people a bit of excitement! You have to push everywhere, even on the road sections, but it's all very much like the old days and very emotional for me."
8. Richard Martin-Hurst/Tony Devantier - GB/NZ - Ford Capri Perana"We got lost in CS11 and then stuck in soft sand and had to get the ladders out; we lost loads of time. We then lost the power steering in CS13, but Tony fixed it for the final section."
15. Anthony Ward/Ievan Thomas - GB/GB - Ford Escort"CS11 was very different, but fantastic. The following one was too fast and CS13 was another fantastic section. We've had no problems with the car and I'm happy at the moment."
16. David Kedward/Crispin Sassoon - GB/GB - Ford Escort"The starter motor went going into the first section and we've had a petrol tank leak and had that out to repair it. Otherwise, the stages have been really good."
18. Jayant Shah/Lofty Drews - GB/GB - Datsun 180B"We're really enjoying it. Some places are too rough and we've had a few problems with the car. We had a flat in CS13 and drove on it for more than six or seven kilometres."
19. James Ingleby/Mike Bowen - GB/GB - Rover "We had the car standing on its nose at one point in CS11; I've not done that before!" We lost time today though with a broken shock absorber right at the start of CS12. We took it out and ran with just one on that corner and lost around 20 minutes."
20. Marzio Kravos/Renzo Bernardi - EAK/EAK - Mercedes 450 SLC"CS12 was very quick and long, but it went before we knew it! We lost the starter motor but can change it tonight." The crew were forced to keep the engine running for over an hour between CS13 and CS14.
2015. Soren Kjaer/Mads Kjaer - DK/DK - Porsche 911"We had an engine problem 10 kilometres from last night's halt, but we have been so lucky. We managed to get the engine from Andrew Barnes' Porsche (the crew retired in the opening leg) and the car's now running like a dream. It was a piston problem with ours; there was a hole in it."
21. Josef Pointinger/Peter Hall - A/GB - Ford Escort"We had big problems in CS11 with so much sand getting into the clutch, stopping it releasing. We got stuck five or six times and then again in the next one too; in fact one of the red cars hit us as there was so much dust. We were lucky enough to solve the clutch problem at a workshop on the Kenyan border though."
22. Graham Alexander/David Stewart - AUS/AUS - Datsun 260Z"We lost second and fourth gears in CS11."
24. Jurgen Bertl/Jiri Kotek - D/CZ - Porsche 911"We got lost in CS11, like a lot of people; it was a very difficult section. We had to stop and change the fan belt in CS12 but only lost around three or four minutes, and then had to stop and let cattle past in the following one; but that's the Safari. We're having a lot of fun."
29. Marc Devis/Dan Erculisse - B/B - Porsche 911"It's been an excellent day. This is my first-ever rally on gravel and first Safari. CS11 was like the Dakar, sand everywhere! We had a problem with the clutch two or three kilometres before the end of the stage and I couldn't get the car into gear. It's awesome driving alongside ex-World Rally Champions; it was just a shame not to be able to watch them too! The objective has always been to finish, so I'm happy so far."
31. Roddy Sachs/Clive Gardiner - ZA/ZA - Alfa Romeo 2000The crew is reported to have rolled 14 kilometres into CS12. A broken axle has forced them into retirement. The crew are uninjured.
33. Aslam Khan/Imran Khan - EAK/EAK - Datsun 180B"We've had this strange misfire from the start. We've changed everything short of the engine to try and solve it, but it's still a mystery. CS12 was a great section; a real Safari stage."
34. Bo Axelsson/Eugen Damstedt - S/FIN - Volvo 142S"We went off and hit a tree in CS11, damaging the side of the car, but the last two sections were fine."
36. Simon Sharpe/Denis Burnett - EAK/GB - BMW 2002"We've had no problems and it's been lots of fun. Yesterday was a big day and CS12 was a very long section. But we've had no problems at all so long may it last."
37. Alastair Caldwell/Catriona Rings - GB/GB - Mercedes 280SE"It's going badly and we've not been in the event today. Last night we noticed the front engine mount had broken and so we had to strap up the engine. We took the day off today to get it fixed, but being Sunday it hasn't been easy."
44. Gunther Kronseder/Gerd Petzold - D/D - Opel Manta"It's been really good so far, no big problems at all. Apart from CS11, the stages have been great; what rallying is all about."
47. Jonathan Savage/Quentin Savage - EAK/EAK - Datsun 260Z"The engine mounting bolts sheared into the crank case in CS12 and we've been nursing the car to the finish."
