The 2019 Safari Rally was held as a World Rally Championship (WRC) candidate event as the Kenyan government attempted to ensure the rally is restored to its WRC status. Mint Glint Media was privileged to document part of the action and side events that included the official awards and closing ceremony on behalf of the Safari Rally Project of the government of Kenya.
Baldev Chager and his navigator Ravi Soni celebrate their win of 2019 Safari Rally to the right is Oliver Ciesla – Managing Director – WRC Promoter GmbH and to the left is Phineas Kimathi the CEO of Safari Rally Project in Kenya.
The State House Chief of Staff and the Head of President’s Delivery Unit, Nzioka Waita and his navigator Laban-Cliff Onserio were among 27 finishers of the 2019 Safari Rally. He finished 24th overall in his Mitsubishi Evo 9.
The State House Chief of Staff and the Head of President’s Delivery Unit, Nzioka Waita and his navigator Laban-Cliff Onserio
At the age of 24, McRae Kimathi, named after the three-Safari Rally winner and sone to veteran Rally driver and the current CEO of Safari Rally Project, was the youngest finisher of the 2019 Safari Rally placing 21st.
At the age of 24, McRae Kimathi, named after the three-Safari Rally winner and sone to veteran Rally driver and the current CEO of Safari Rally Project, was the youngest finisher of the 2019 Safari Rally placing 21st.
Amon the VIP Spectators at the 2019 Safari Rally were; Tourism Cabinet Secretary Hon. Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Heritage and Culture Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Mr. Oliver Ciesla – Managing Director – WRC Promoter GmbH and Phineas Kimathi the CEO of Safari Rally Project in Kenya and a veteran Rally Driver.
VIP Spectators at the 2019 Safari Rally were
Officials of the International Automobile Federation (FIA), the governing body for world motorsport, were present to assess its suitability.
The Safari Rally was part of the World Rally Championship for many years until 2002, when it was axed for lack of finance and government support.
This rally featured 51 crews, who were flagged off by Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in Nairobi, on July 5.
Results of the 2019 Safari Rally:
- Baldev Chager/Ravi Soni (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 164.30.
- Carl Tundo/Tim Jessop (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 165.23.6
- Manvir Baryan/Drew Sturrock (Kenya/Skoda Fabia)276.23.8
- Ian Duncan/Anthony Nielson (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 179.28.4
- Leroy Gomes/Urshlla Gomes (Zambia/Ford Fiesta) 186.08.6
- Jassy Singh/Sajid Khan (Zambia/ Subaru Impreza) 186.48.7
- Giancarlo Devine/Sylvia Vindevogel (Rwanda/Mitsubishi Lancer) 190.38.7
- Tejvir Rai/Gavin Laurence (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 191.31.6
- Yassin Nasser/Ali Katumba (Uganda/Subaru Impreza) 198.26.2
- Mahesh Halai/Ketan Halai (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer) Evo10) 204.24.1
- Karan Patel/James Mwangi (Kenya/Subaru Impreza) 208.59.9
- Jasmeet Chana/Ravi Chana (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer) 210.38.2
- Duncan Mubiru/Musa Nsubuga (Uganda/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 218.34.4
- John Nganga/Denus Mwanda (Kenya/Subaru Impreza) 223.46.22
- Hussein Malik/Linet Ayuko (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10) 224.48.3
- Nikhil Sachania/Deep Patel (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10)
- Sohanjeet Puee/Adnan Din (Kenya/Subaru Impreza N10)
- Minesh Rathod/Shameer Yusuf (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10)
- Geoff Mayes/Suzanna Zwager (Land Rover)
- Lyimo Emmanuel/Ali Mustafa (Tanzania/Subaru Impreza)
- McRae Kimathi/Evan Mwenda (Kenya/Subaru Impreza)
- Issa Amwari/Job Njiru (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10)
- David Kioni/Henry Nyoike (Kenya/Subaru Impreza)
- Waita Nzioka/Laban Cliff (Kenya/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo9)
- Jonathan Somen/Richard Hechle (Kenya/Ford Escort Mark11)
- Christakis Fitidis/Veer Dadar (Tanzania/Mitsubishi Lancer Evo10)
- Ken Nteere/Edward Ndukui (Kenya/Subaru Impreza)
