Baldev Chager (KEN) also known as ‘The Flying Singh’ emerged winner yesterday after beating Finland’s Tapio Laukkanen in total time of 06:04:16.8 during the Safaricom East African Mini Classic Rally, Nakuru County.
Tapio Laukkanen(FIN)/Gavin Laurence(KEN) came in second in time of 06:09:24.5, a difference of 05:07.7 . Second runners up was Raaji Bharij (KEN)/Tej Sehmi (KEN) 06:21:11.0
“Day 1 was more like a warm up, whilst day 2 Oltepesi stage was the most challenging I’ve ever done. It was 80 kilometers but it was a mixture of everything challenging and competitive you can find in a rally route. Stage 3 was a little rough, 140 kilometres but one of the nicest rally stages I’ve done as they opened up Baringo, ” Said Baldev Chager
The race which was flagged off on Sunday had a total of 18 teams with a few falling out at the last stages.
The 4-day competition inclusive of scrutineering stage covered 600Kms with the drivers passing through Kajiado, Narok, Baringo and Nakuru.
Safaricom sponsored the rally to a tune of KES 4 Million and provided 4G internet for the organizers. The rally’s tracking system has been improved by the inclusion of Safaricom’s 4G+ network. Boosted by high internet speeds, rally enthusiasts will find it easier to track and monitor their favorite rally drivers and navigators through their mobile phones.
The race is being held in memory of the late J.S.Vohra who was the chairman of the East Africa Safari Classic Rally (EASC)
The 600 km ended at The Sarova Woodlands, Nakuru on Tuesday 11th December 2018.
Safaricom Mini Classic Rally Provisional Classification- Final
| Pos/N | Drivers | Class | Car/Team | Time/Pen | Total | Diff/Diff |
| 1 | Baldev Chager | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 06:04:16.8 | 06:04:16.8 | |
| 1 | Ravi Soni | Kabras Sugar Racing | ||||
| 2 | Tapio Laukkanen | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 06:09:24.5 | 06:09:24.5 | 05:07.7 |
| 2 | Gavin Laurence | Kabras Sugar Racing | 05:07.7 | |||
| 3 | Raaji Bharij | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 06:21:11.0 | 06:21:11.0 | 16:54.2 |
| 3 | Tej Sehmi | Raaji Bharij | 11:46.5 | |||
| 4 | Rob Linck | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 06:44:16.2 | 06:44:16.2 | 39:59.4 |
| 8 | Imran Khan | Rob Linck | 23:05.2 | |||
| 5 | Jonathan Somen | Cl2 | Ford Escort MK2 | 06:51:58.8 | 06:51:58.8 | 47:42.0 |
| 6 | Richard Hechle | Scuderia Dagoretti | 07:42.6 | |||
| 6 | Ramesh Vishram | Cl2 | Ford Escort MK2 | 07:11:09.1 | 07:15:59.1 | 01:11:42.3 |
| 14 | Riyaz Ismail | Cementers Racing Team | 04:50 | 24:00.3 | ||
| 7 | Dinesh Sachania | Cl2 | Datsun 180B | 32:50:35.2 | 32:55:25.2 | 26:51:08.4 |
| 18 | Feisal Khan | Samani Rally | 04:50 | 25:39:26.1 | ||
| 8 | Jayant Shah | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 32:50:38.0 | 32:57:28.0 | 26:53:11.2 |
| 9 | Arshad Khan | Jayant Shah | 06:50 | 02:02.8 | ||
| 9 | Hamza Anwar | Cl2 | Datsun 1600 SSS | 33:02:38.5 | 33:04:38.5 | 27:00:21.7 |
| 20 | Shabaz Anwar | Asad Anwar | 02:00 | 07:10.5 | ||
| 10 | Ian Duncan | Cl3 | Ford Capri | 56:45:16.0 | 56:45:16.0 | 50:40:59.2 |
| 4 | Anthony Nielsen | Ian Duncan Rallying | 23:40:37.5 | |||
| 11 | Ben Woodhams | Cl3 | Ford Capri | 58:02:29.0 | 58:02:29.0 | 51:58:12.2 |
| 16 | Kavit Dave | Ben Woodhams | 01:17:13.0 | |||
| 12 | Yusuf Pasta | Cl2 | Ford Escort MK1 | 83:04:57.3 | 83:05:37.3 | 77:01:20.5 |
| 17 | Ahmed Rashid | Roadtainers Racing Team | 00:40 | 25:03:08.3 | ||
| 13 | Joey Ghose | Cl2 | Ford Escort MK1 | 107:05:39.4 | 108:35:39.4 | 102:31:22.6 |
| 12 | Harpal Singh | Historic Rallysport | 01:30:00 | 25:30:02.1 | ||
| 14 | Nish Lakhani | Cl2 | Datsun 1600 | 107:33:59.6 | 109:03:59.6 | 102:59:42.8 |
| 15 | Teeku Patel | Nish Lakhani | 01:30:00 | 28:20.2 | ||
| 15 | Aslam Khan | Cl3 | Porsche 911 | 156:31:47.2 | 159:31:47.2 | 153:27:30.4 |
| 11 | Kashif Shaikh | ALS Motorsport | 03:00:00 | 50:27:47.6 | ||
| 16 | Kailesh Chauhan | Cl2 | Ford Escort RS 1800 | 181:14:22.6 | 184:14:22.6 | 178:10:05.8 |
| 7 | Tariq Malik | Kailesh Chauhan | 03:00:00 | 24:42:35.4 |