Following months of preparation, Francis Tuthill’s attack on the 2009 East African Safari Classic is finally under way. Despite the very different desert terrain, day 1 saw the team get off to a great start, with Gerard Marcy and Stephane Prevot finishing first in their Tuthill Porsche, seventeen seconds ahead of second place.
“There were some soft places in there with sand,” Gerard told the official Rally website. ” I thought my tyres were all on very low pressures or something as there was no acceleration and no braking, but it was just the feel that surface gave. Otherwise, the car is perfect and we are happy to be starting first.”
Other Tuthill drivers enjoyed slightly mixed fortunes, but all are delighted to be off the blocks. Paul-Eric Jarry and Jean-Francois Andreoli had a trouble-free run to finish twelfth in their Tuthill 911. Steve Troman and Calvin Cooledge in their new-build Safari car had a minor off which cost a little bit of time, but still managed to finish just two minutes behind the leaders.
Day one’s trouble-free was only interrupted by suspected fuel supply problems for Martin Aguirre and Luis Mirasol. The team believe they have traced and rectified the issue, so the chaps should now be back in the hunt.
Another notable 911 on Safari is being piloted by the sensational Bjorn Waldegard, who has pulled opportunity from the jaws of defeat by landing an eleventh-hour drive in an impact bumper 911. Bjorn’s car replaces another 911 “lost in the mix”, and is owned by Iqbal Sagoo: a Kenyan ex-pat, now living in California. Bjorn finished fourth on stage one, and we can expect much more to come as the Safari ace plays himself in.
Note: these images are by McKlein. Link to their website here.
{ 2 comments… read them below or add one }
FYI Martin Aguirre and Luis Mirasol did not experience fuel problems on day 1 of the rally. It was a different car.
Hi Tes, thanks for the comment. I was relaying the day's events as reported by the rally organisers. I'll update the post when I have heard back from Richard – got an email in for more info at the minute. Martin looks to have been going well since though, according to the results I have seen!
Let us know if you hear more from the boys.
Thanks, John