Page 21 - EA Safari Classic Rally 2019

Baldev Chager - Man of the Moment Baldev Chager

Since finishing on the podium at the When pushed furthered and last two years fine tuning an already
2017 East African Safari Classic Rally asked if he thought he was the well-developed car. They have
Baldev Chager and Ravi Soni have favourite Baldy was quick to point isolated the old engine issues caused
enjoyed the taste of the winners out the many different factors by dust being injested and even
champagne an awful lot. involved; detuned their engines for improved
The pair won the 2018 Top Fry Weather – it doesn't matter if its reliability. The ability to read the
Classic, dominated the Mini East wet or dry, the Classic Safari roads road and pick your line through rocks
African Classic and then won the are a huge challenge. The new for or mud is what separates the top
2019 Top Fry Classic again for good 2019 pacenote system will increase competitors from the also-rans but
measure. And then, as if their speeds, but will also bring a degree even the best can sometimes get it
current dominance in Classic Rallying of additional safety as well. If the wrong. Both of the joint 2017
wasn't enough, the pair lifted the team can jell with the notes quickly winners lost time in the same mud
prestigious KNRC Safari Rally crown then they could have an advantage. hole on different days… And of
in early July and currently lead the But notes are dependent on the course, if you break the car, the
Kenyan National Rally Championship. weather being consistent between ability to fix it quickly in the bush can
Baldy, as he is commonly known, when they were written and when also help enormously!
does admit that, whilst all of these the cars hit the stages. A freak Competition – Baldev reckons the
other accolades are very special, the rainstorm or trees being pushed top threats in 2019 would be his two
East African Safari Classic is the one across the road by elephants could team-mates, Tej and Onkar Rai,
he really wants to win. Nine days of change the dynamics of a road. along with the ever present Stig
man and machine, teamwork tested Baldy talks of 2017 when he was Blomqvist, whilst Ian Duncan could
tirelessly against Africa and delayed out of one stage by 15 be a dark horse. This strong entry
everything their homeland can minutes. In that time the rains will make any strategy difficult. Go
throw at them, Baldy and Ravi admit arrived and, whilst the top cars had a too cautiously in the beginning and
that just finishing the EASC is an dry run, he slithered through the you could get left behind but go too
achievement in itself… but 2019 next stage some minutes slower… hard and you could do some early
might, just maybe, could be their Mechanical Sympathy and damage that you have to struggle
year! Knowledge – the Porsche 911 with for the rest of the event!
appears to be the weapon
of choice at the
moment. Baldevs
team, Team
Kabras, have
spent
the

Jayant Shah Jayant contested the first Classic Safari Rally in a
Datsun 1600 SSS before upgrading, first to a Datsun 260Z

Tanzania resident Jayant truly is a giant of the sport. The and then to the car he campaigns now, a gorgeous
69 year old has been a regular feature of the Safari Rally sounding Porsche 911 built by Tuthill Porsche. Since
since his debut back in 1979. Jayant began his Safari moving to the Porsche Jayant has never finished outside
legacy at the wheel of a Datsun 160J. On his fourth the top 10 – a pretty impressive result for one of the
attempt, co-driven by Aslam Khan, the pair finished fifth sports elder statesmen!
overall on an event won by Shekha Mehta. The next
year, 1983, the pair went one better and finished
fourth overall in a Nissan 240RS, behind Ari Vatanen,
Hannu Mikkola and Michele Mouton!
Although fourth overall was the best Safari result
for Jayant he has also competed globally, taking
wins on the Himalayan Rally and finishing in the top
ten of WRC Argentina and Greece!

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