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Italian driver Eugenio Amos and his navigator Paolo Ceci are the winners of the 2023 East African Safari Classic Rally after beating Kenya’s defending champion Baldev Chager to the title
Italian driver Eugenio Amos and his navigator Paolo Ceci are the champions of the 11th edition of the East African Safari Classic Rally.
After a riveting duel nine-day duel with defending champion Baldev Chager, navigated by Gareth Dawe for the top honors, Amos and Ceci navigated the demanding Kenyan landscape with precision to clinch the title in a provisional total time of 14:42:35.2 after the final stage CS24 to win the title.
Kenya’s Chager and Dawe, the previous champions, displayed remarkable resilience and sportsmanship throughout the rally to settle for second place 10 minutes: 45.0 seconds behind the leader with a total provisional time of 14:53:20.2
Wrapping up the podium was Kris Rosenberger and Nicola Bleicher who showcased their skill and determination, securing a well-deserved third place in a provisional time of 15:11:40.2, while Bonamy Grimes finished fourth.
“It has been a hell of a ride. Even the last day was tricky but we said we take it easy. It was raining we had to like second gear and third all the time but we somehow managed to survive,” said a delighted Amos.
Earlier on Saturday during the seventh leg, Chager managed to slash Amos’s lead from 19 to 11 minutes, a big chunk of time that gave the multiple champion a glimmer of hope of retaining his crown, in a day that saw many of the drivers face a real test of the nine days in the first stage of the day in Taita.
“I can tell you the most difficult rally I have done even being local. Anything and everything that could be thrown at you was done. We thought the last stage we would just drive through, the rains said, no, no, wait a minute. It was so tricky you could not see beyond the bonnet. Everything was steaming up big drops on the side,” said Chager.
Two-time Classic Rally champion Ian Duncan finished fifth overall and Farhaaz Khan 11th. Other Kenyan drivers who completed the rally were Shakeel Khan in 15th, Nish Lakhani 22nd Anthony Nielsen in 29th.
The rally tested not only the speed and agility of the competitors but also their endurance and strategic navigation.
The East African Safari Classic Rally is not merely a race; it is a celebration of heritage, a test of mettle, and a gathering of the finest rally enthusiasts from around the globe.
The 2023 edition lived up to its legacy, offering an unforgettable spectacle of skill, camaraderie, and adventure.
A total of 50 drivers out of the 60 managed to complete the event, reflecting the resilience of those who persevered through the challenging stages.
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