The Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy team are celebrating the conclusion of this year’s East African Classic Safari Rally.
Sharing a Tuthill Porsche 911, the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy founder and patron John Coyne and the Academy’s Josh McErlean set off from Mombasa on December 9.
By Monday this week, McErlean had covered nearly 2,100km of competitive sections by the finish in Nairobi.
Unfortunately for Coyne, an illness during the opening week forced him to withdraw from the event. However, Rally Academy co-driver Eoin Treacy was on hand to step into the co-driver’s seat. Thus, allowing the Motorsport Ireland liveried Porsche to finish the legendary event.
New Co-driver
Treacy had to cope with event rules including route details being kept secret until the night before each leg. While, Route amendments being dropped in the car’s window. In line with night navigation trial style, minutes before each day’s departure.
Along the way, the three Motorsport Ireland men suffered all sorts of trials and tribulation. From broken steering racks and gearboxes to setting the fastest time on both the opening prologue test and other fastest times through the week. Including the final stage into Nairobi on Monday.
They encountered flash floods, wild animals that the Safari rally is famous for and the country’s equally famous helpful locals.
Their team of Tuthill Porsche mechanics worked around the clock throughout the event’s 10-day duration, keeping the Irish team involved.
Finishing a creditable 26th overall despite the event’s best efforts to force them onto the ever-growing retirement list.
“We made the end of this exciting adventure” said McErlean at Monday’s conclusion. “It has been very crazy. Nothing like I've ever done before. I don't know how to describe it”.
“It was absolutely mental” added Treacy. “Fair play to Josh, some serious difficult stuff through all of them stages.” Added Treacy in awe of the experience after being surprisingly drafted into the passenger seat following John's illness.
Motorsport Ireland licence holder Gary McElhinney was the best of the Irish competitors in Kenya. The Donegal-based co-driver guided Briton Andrew Siddall to seventh overall in a Datsun 240Z.
