Ian Duncan Out To Recreate 'Flying Sausage' Magic At 2019 Safari Rally

NAIROBI, Kenya- In 1994, Ian Duncan hit the peak of his fame when he drove is Toyota Celica GT4 christened 'Flying Sausage' to Safari Rally victory to become the last Kenyan driver to win the grueling event when it was part of the World Rally Championships (WRC) calendar.

Now 25 years later, Duncan who is known for his fearless driving, is among the 45 entries who have confirmed their entry for the 2019 edition that will be a Candidate Event for a return to the WRC circuit seeking another notable victory in his chequered motor sport career.

At the same time, organisers have confirmed that the Head of Presidential Delivery Unit Nzioka Waita will return to the driving seat after sitting out for several years with Duncan who missed the 2018 Safari entering a Mitsubishi Lancer EXO X navigated by Anthony Nielsen. The 1994 WRC Safari champion will be going for victory as the most experienced driver in the field of 45 who have so far confirmed participation.

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His presence spices up competition at the top as he takes on holder Carl Tundo in a similar make, Africa champion Manvir Baryan, fast rising Onkar Rai (Skoda Fabia) and Zambian ace Leroy Gomes (Ford Fiesta R5) among others.

Foreign competitors will come from UK, Italy, Belgian Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi.

Uganda has the highest number of entries at six with busloads of their fans confirming they will make a trip across the border to cheer their heroes.

Meanwhile Clerk of Course Gurvi Bhabra has confirmed that entry to Kedong and Soysambu ranches will be free and spectators will be granted all necessary amenities.

Special stage

Chief safety officer, Norris Ongalo on his part noted that safety is key in Kenya’s road map back to the high profile FIA World Rally Championship and they expect to police the roads using volunteer marshals and members of the disciplined forces.

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So important is safety of drivers and spectators that the FIA has sent the 1983 WRC Safari Rally champion Michelle Mouton as the safety delegate and she will drive through the entire route at the beginning of every competitive stage.

The Safari will be flagged outside the Presidential Entrance of the MISC Kasarani Stadium on July 5 from 11:00 am. Cars will then head to the Super Special Stage on a head to head competition of two drivers in the 4.5km loop.

They  will then head to Gatamaiyo Forest 12km stage via Thika Road through Exit 14 into Kenyatta Road.

The cars will then come of Gatamaiyo at Kinale Forest (Soko Mjinga) and use the main Nairobi/Nakuru highway up to Naivasha town before ending up at Sopa Lodge for an overnight say. Day two will start in Naivasha up to Soysambu  where action will concentrate around Elmentaita.

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On Sunday action returns to Kedong in Naivasha with the close of entries for the premier event closing later Wednesday.

The 2019 Safari  Rally entrants so far

1 Paras Pandya – Ken- Falgun Bhojak -  Ken  Evo X N

2 Mahesh Halai –Ken- Ketan Halai – Ken-  Subaru Impreza N N

3 Lloyd John - UK -Cavenagh Adrian – Ken- Ford Escort Classic

4 Somen Jonathan – Ken- Hechle Richard –Ken- Ford Escort Mk Ii Classic

5 Edward Maina -Edward Njoroge- Ken- Subaru Impreza N10 N

6 Jasmeet Chana - Ken Ravi Chana - Ken Ken Evo X N

7 Giancarlo Davite- Bel- Sylvia Vindevogel- Bur Bel/Bur Evo X R4

8 Karan Patel - Ken -James Mwangi – Ken- Evo X N

9 Daren Miranda – Ken- Fernandes Wayne – Ken- Toyota Sprinter 2wd

10 Walubi Kepher - UG Mugambwa Anthony UG- Evo X N

11 Ssebaguzi Ronald- Ssenyange Leon-Ug- Evo X N

12 Puee Sohanjeet- Ken Din Adnan – Ken- Subaru Impreza N10 N

13 Geoff Mayes – Ken- Suzanne Zwager - Ken -Landrover Spv

14 Rai Onkar – Ken- Dawe Gareth - Ken -Scoda Fabia Rc2-R5

15 Rai Tejvir - Ken -Tba Evo X Rc2-R3

16 Chager Baldev- Ken- Ravi Soni - Ken - Evo X Rc2-R4

17 Kahlon Lovejyot Singh - Ken Limbani Harshil – Ken- Subaru Impreza N10 S

18 Gomes Leroy - Zam Gomes Urshlla – Zam- Ford Fiesta R5

19 Sachania Nikhil - Ken Deep Patel - Ken -Evo X Spv

20 Carl Tundo - Ken -Tim Jessop – Ken- Evo X Rc2-R4

21 Sira Hardev - Ken -Tba -Ken- Ford Escort Classic

22 Nasser Yassin - UG Katumba Ali - UG Subaru Impreza RC 2

23 Aakif Virani - Ken -Azhar Bhatti – Ken- Subaru Impreza - Vab Spv

24 Mcrae Kimathi - Ken -Tba Ken- Subaru Impreza - N12 N

25 Minesh Rathod- Ken -Shameer Yusuf- Ken -Evo X N

26 Duncan Mubiru – UG- Musa Nsubuga - UG Evo X S

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27 Eric Bengi- Ken- Tuta Mionki - Ken - Evo X N

28 Issa Amwari - Ken Job Njiru -Ken -Evo X Rc2-R4

29 Ammar Haq- Ken Victor Okundi- Ken -Evo X N

30 Christakis Fitidis - UG Veer Dadar - Tz UG/TZ- Evo X N

31 Godfrey Nsereko – UG- JB Musisi - Ug -Toyota Runx 2wd

32 Katete Abdul – UG- Mohammed Rahma –UG-Subaru Impreza Rc2-R4

33 Pieiro Canobbio - Itl Tba Itl Evo X N

34 Manvir Bayan - Ken Drew Sturrock – UK-Skoda Fabia R5 Rc2-R5

35 Moez Malik – Ken- Steven Njenga – Ken- Subaru Impreza Vab N

36 Hussein Malik – Ken- Tba Ken Evo X N

37 Ian Duncan - Ken Anthony Nielsen -Ken -Evo X N

38 Kirit Rajput - Ken -Kashif Sheikh –Ken- Bmw - 325i Classic

39 John Ng'ang'a – Ken- Tba Ken Subaru Impreza Gdb N

40 Waita Nzioka – Ken- Laban Cliff – Ken- Mitsubishi Evo 9 N

41 Mughal Adil - Ken Hamid Zaib – Ken- Subaru Impreza S

42 Kenn Kamau - Ken Tba Ken Subaru Impreza S

43 Izhar Mirza- Ken Kavit Dave - Ken Ken Mitsubishi Evo 10 N

44 Kailesh Chohan-Ken_ Tariq Malik-Ken-Ford Escort

45 Ken Nteere-Ken-Edward Ndukui-Ken-Subaru Impreza

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