Ernest Ndunda
20 December 2003
Nairobi — Kenya's former Safari Rally ace, Rob Collinge, scooped his first victory by claiming the East African Safari Rally yesterday.
Collinge, navigated by Anton Levitan, drove their Datsun 240Z car safely home to win the gruelling classic rally which started in Mombasa 10 days ago and covered 5,000km.
Collinge, a prominent farmer, had never won the rally since its inception in 1956 and the victory was historic. Out of the 53 cars which started the rally, 31 managed to finish.
The Kenyan lost an accumulated time of 17hr 42.42 min in the 10-day event.
The winner left the ramp first on December 12 and never gave up as he led throughout.
He brought home his powerful car first yesterday at the Leisure Lodge Beach Hotel, South Coast.
"It was absolutely a tough rally. I had gearbox problems but I proved I am a tough man on the road," smiled Collinge in a post-rally interview.
"Most of the routes in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania were dusty and I drove cautiously to see my car through," he said.
He said the routes offered a challenge to drivers while local people exhibited amazing enthusiasm.
Collinge thanked his sponsor DT Dobie for their support, saying he fulfilled his promise by winning the rally.
Frenchman Dor Frederic co-driven by countryman Didier Breton in a Porsche 911 came in second after losing accumulated time of 18hr 30.37min.
Stauart Rolt navigated by Richard Tuthill both from Britain in a Porsche 911 claimed the third position with a loss of 19hr 08.31min.
Andrew Barnes and David Lewis both of Britain in a Ford Escort were fourth with 19hr 35.50min lost.
Another Kenyan Bruce Field navigated by Jan Thoenes were fifth in another Porsche 911 car after losing 19hr 40.33min.
The Kenyans were sponsored by Farmer's Choice.
The locals had a last minute entry following the withdrawal of Bjorn Waldegard after his wife suffered a stroke.
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