We have travelled from awasa throughto doma. The route took us south west from Kilimanjaro into a ridge which held part of the 1971 world cup rally.

The run to the start was good up til about 6kms away where most of the field was held up by roadworks and mud. The start was delayed by 1 hour.

Off we went onto great competition roads with Sam driving. Near,y 200kms broken into three consecutive sections. The first has was great mudd roadside fast smooth dirt and the second half a reminder of our 2 day run from the Ethiopian border to Nairobi, bu manageable . We haven’t seen the result but we probably did ok passing 2 cars.

Many of the rally opted to miss this section so have taken the road east to the coast then they will meet up with us on the evening of day 21. It’s a Long way around and good for us for position placing

David boddy had broken suspension early in the competition and now at 8pm no one has seen him, left behind nearly 400kms ago

Many of the cars here are having major work done. The second half of the day was rough then an even rougher run for the transport of about 150kms to the hotel in the capital

The patched up merc is running well with new shocks , but we have he a liar of nasty noises from the rear. The rear fire wall ins now cracked most of she at on shock absorber mount to mount.

ME had Alastair who has substantial experience in F1 have a look at it and wasn’t careened, and one of the mechanis from the organizers is not too concerned

We tried to get welded up this afternoon but we’d be up all night in the que, and we’d have to pull the fuel tank out as they don’t have mig or tig welders here.

So well bumble on and keep an eye on it and hope the stresses arent transferred to the fuel tank

The two door merc competed today but broke down and hasn’t been seen

The other 4 door ripped hi sump guard off yesterday and cracked the alloy sump. They had it retired but have opted to do the 2 d long Tarmac drive around the dirt

Greg and Sam newtons front suspicion is held together by rope

Tomorrow we have a long 600km plus day over a mountain on rough roads. Well have a look at it and decide if we are gong torisk the car

We are hoping the crack will join from side to side and then the roll bar may take over the structural support