Italian duo Eugenio Amos and Paolo Ceci emerged victorious in the challenging 2023 East African Safari Classic Rally, securing their win with a final day performance in a Porsche 911, clocking an impressive 14:42:35.2.
Their triumph marked a clean sweep for Porsche 911, with Kenya’s Baldev Chager taking second place and Kris Rosenberger securing the third podium spot.
The final day’s action included the 87.50km SS22 Teita morning run, where Frenchman Patrice Perche set the fastest stage time. Eugenio claimed the 50km Vingurungani stage (SS23), while Josh Mcerlean won the closing Mrima speed test (SS24/46.30km).
Reflecting on the challenging event, Eugenio expressed his happiness with the car’s performance and the overall win. Patrice Perche, the early pacesetter, showcased speed in the morning run, while Rosenberger highlighted the difficulty of navigation.
The rally covered 4000km, featuring tricky sections and challenging conditions. Ian Duncan emphasized the importance of precise navigation, and Bonamy Grimes, finishing fifth, enjoyed the final stage, flying through it and having a lot of fun.
The top 10 provisional Day 8 results are as follows:
Eugenio Amos /Paolo Ceci Porsche 911 14:42:35.2
Baldev Chager /Gareth Dawe Porsche 911 14:53:20.2
Kris Rosenberger/Nicola Bleicher Porsche 911 15:11:40.2
Bonamy Grimes / Martin Rowe Porsche 911 15:32:56.3
Ian Duncan Jaspal Matharu Datsun 280Z 16:12:10.4
Patrice Perche /Julien Saunier Porsche 911 16:26:11.9
Andrew Siddall /Gary Mcelhinney Datsun 240Z 16:51:07.0
David Von Schinkel/Fredrik Von Der Porsche 911 17:21:46.4
Iain Dobson/Harry Stubbs Ford Escort Rs1600 17:42:42.6
Farhaaz Khan/Keith Henrie Ford Escort Mk1 18:16:09.0