This archive report was first published on 1 August 2019.
Onkar Rai's Porsche 911 took the lead in the Top Fry Classic Safari Rally on Day Two, with a two-and-a-half minute gap over overnight leader Baldev Chager. The battle for the top spot continued unabated on Thursday.
At the midway point of the rally, Rai's lead stood at two minutes and 34 seconds, with four stages remaining to the finish on Saturday. Chager, the Safari Rally winner, navigated by Ravi Soni, held the second spot, just ahead of Carl Tundo and Tim Jessop in the sole Triumph TR7.
South Africa's Geoff Bell maintained his position as the best foreign driver in fifth, driving a Datsun 240Z. Twice winner of the East African Safari Classic Rally, Ian Duncan, faced problems that slowed down his Rover VR8, placing him 11th.
On Friday, the competition will tackle three more stages through Naibor/Il Polei (116 kilometres), Dol dol/Ole Naishu (64kms), and Loldaiga/Loldaiga (76kms), covering a total distance of 357 kilometres, with 257 kilometres being competitive.
Frank Tundo and his daughter Tash did not start the rally, citing their car's failure to get ready in time. Instead, they are now among the officials monitoring the competition. Jayant Shah, a veteran driver, is back in action in a Porsche 911, co-driven by Arshad Khan from Kenya.
