John Lloyd and Adrian Cavenagh survived one of the most gruelling East African Safari Rallies when they brought their Viking Motorsport prepared Ford Escort Mk2 home to ninth overall and second in class behind team-mates, previous world champion Stig Blomqvist and Ana Goni who finished 3rd overall. A great result for the Phil Mills led team.

The 4000km long, eight day event was thwarted with torrential rain causing flooded river crossings, flash floods and impassable muddy sections. The event was won by three times World Rally Champion Bjorn Waldegard and his son Mathias driving a Tuthill prepared Porsche 911.

"We're lucky to be here. It's been a lot tougher than I expected and that hour we spent in the river earlier in the rally due to a flash flood was not fun and cost us a top five placing.

It was very difficult in some sections and positively frightening over very high speed water logged roads. The first stage out of Amboseli was a river all the way, only a few cars got through and a flash flood stopped the stage with Alister Cavenagh's Escort being submerged in muddy water. This was not an event for the faint hearted.

After all the challenges we faced I am delighted to finish in the top ten and this is definitely my last Safari rally!

I was delighted to help raise awareness of the Serenje Orphans Appeal in Zambia. My son Eddie, as part of a leadership project at his school has been working hard to raise funds to enable the orphanage to have direct access to their own water with the digging of a well and purchase of pumping equipment, piping and water tank. The cost of this equipment is expected to be about £7,000 and through the support of many generous donations from friends and competitors, the total raised to date is over £6,000."