ARC Equator Rally a huge success, now focus shifts to WRC Safari Rally in June

Overall winner Carl Tundo splashed through a river at Soysambu on the opening day of the ARC Equator Rally on Saturday (April 24, 2021). POOL/ NATION

By ELIAS MAKORI, Nation Media Group For ARC Equator Rally

The Cabinet Secretary for Sports, Culture and Heritage, Hon. Amb. (Dr.) Amina Mohamed, has congratulated organisers of the recent ARC Equator Rally (African Rally Championship Equator Rally), saying the successful competition had moved Kenya closer to celebrating the return to the World Rally Championship in June.

ARC Equator Rally a huge success, now focus shifts to WRC Safari Rally in June — Kenya’s Eric Bengi navigated by Peter Mutuma cruise through the Malewa Competitive Section in their Menengai Lemon Racing Team’s Mitsubishi Evolution 10 during the African Rally Championship Equator Rally on Sunday (April 25, 2021). ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

Kenya's Tejveer Rai navigated by Gareth Dawe — Kenya’s Tejveer Rai navigated by Gareth Dawe tackle the Malewa stage of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally on Sunday (April 25, 2021) at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute. ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

The Hon. Cabinet Secretary said the success of the April 23-25 competition was evidence enough that Kenya is ready to host the WRC Safari Rally from June 24-27, with six of the sections from the Equator Rally to be used by the global competition.

Carl Tundo, Navigated by Tim Jessop, won the ARC Equator Rally by a 12-minute margin from second placed Tejveer Rai

Carl Tundo and navigator Tim Jessop celebrate after winning the Africa Rally Championship Equator Rally — Carl Tundo (right) and navigator Tim Jessop celebrate at the Kenya Wildlife Service Training Institute Service Park finish ramp in Naivasha after winning the ARC Equator Rally on Sunday, April 25, 2021. PHOTO/ SILA KIPLAGAT/ NATION/ WRC SAFARI RALLY

Tejveer Rai (centre) and navigator Gareth Dawe (left) at the end of the ARC Equator Rally in Naivasha on Sunday (April 25, 2021). PHOTO/ POOL

The CS thanked His Excellency the President, Uhuru Kenyatta, for spearheading the Safari Rally’s return to the World Rally Championship series after a 19-year hiatus.

President Kenyatta took time to follow the ARC Equator Rally from the Soysambu Competitive Section on Saturday.

The President is also Patron of the WRC Safari Rally.

“His Excellency the President pledged in his pre-election manifesto to have the Safari Rally back onto the World Rally Championship series and he’s done it,” the Cabinet Secretary, who is also a member of the FIA World Motor Sport Council, said.

“I’d like to thank him for his leadership and support for motorsport and sports in general.

During the three days of competition, just three minor medical incidents were reported and competently managed.

Kenya’s Hussein Malik surveys the interior of his Mitsubishi Evolution 10 after it was recovered from a ditch during the Soysambu Competitive Section of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally on April 24, 2021. MWANGI KIRUBI/ POOL

Hussein Malik, who was co-driven by Linet Ayuko, looks on as his Mitsubishi Evolution 10 is recovered after landing in a ditch at Soysambu on the opening day of the ARC Equator Rally on Saturday (April 24, 2021). POOL/ NATION

Dr Raj Jutley, the experienced head of the WRC Safari Rally medical team, who also led medical operations for the ARC Equator Rally, was happy with the weekend’s work.

“We had 41 ambulances deployed over three days, each one within 10 minutes, maximum, from any incidents, and all our doctors were trauma trained with one dedicated helicopter at our disposal,” said Dr Jutley who was recently appointed by the Hon. Cabinet Secretary to a consortium of medics to endure Covid-19 compliance among Kenya’s national teams and federations, including those preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed (seated, fifth from right) with the medical team that was part of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally last weekend (April 23-25, 2021). The Chief Medical Officer DR Raj Jutley is on the Cabinet Secretary's immediate left. ANWAR SIDI/ NATION — Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed (seated, fifth from right) with the medical team that was part of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally last weekend (April 23-25, 2021). The Chief Medical Officer DR Raj Jutley is on the Cabinet Secretary’s immediate left. ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

Aakif Virani and navigator Azhar Bhati power their Skoda Fabia through a section on the second day of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally on April 24, 2021. PHOTO/ MWANGI KIRUBI

The medical team expressed satisfaction with the event’s Covid-19 compliance with the team able to conduct PCR tests with a 15-minute turnaround time.

This year’s ARC Equator Rally was spectator-free as part of the government’s containment measures against the spread of the coronavirus.

Hamza Anwar (second left) with his navigator Riaz Ismail with their trophies at the finish ramp of the Equator Rally in Naivasha on Sunday (April 25). The officials are (from left) Surinder Thatthi, Jas Rai and Sports Chief Administrative Secretary Simon Kachapin. Anwar, 22, was the youngest driver in the rally and finished fifth overall. PHOTO/ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

Kenya Motor Sports Federation President Phineas Kimathi expressed his confidence that with the government support and following the success of the ARC Equator Rally, Kenya is firmly on track for a successful WRC Safari Rally in June.

“I’d like to thank all the people who have put it together, especially His Excellency the President who personally found time to be part of this event, our Cabinet Secretary Honourable Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Principal Secretary Joe Okudo and the organising team led by Clerk of Course, the Organising Committee, Steering Committee and everyone who has helped put the event together,” Kimathi said at the close of the event.

“Security was fantastic and the police came up in a big way, deploying two helicopters and several police units.

“Medical and Media teams were also perfect with 40 ambulances deployed and a big facility at the Media Centre.”

Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed (centre) and Commissioner of Police Julius Kabiru (right0 with the elite all-female police squad that was part of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally last weekend (April 23-25, 2021) . ANWAR SIDI/ NATION — Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed (centre) and Commissioner of Police Julius Kabiru (right with the elite all-female police squad that was part of the African Rally Championship Equator Rally last weekend (April 23-25, 2021) . ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

Guy Botterill Simon Vacy-Lyle on their way to the finish in their Toyota Etios in the African Rally Championship Equator Rally on April 24, 2021. PHOTO/ MWANGI KIRUBI

Uganda's Amaanraj Rai, navigated by Slovenia's Oslaj Viljem, nurse their Ford Fiesta through a river during the Equator Rally on Saturday (April 24, 2021). PHOTO/ANWAR SIDI/ NATION — Uganda’s Amaanraj Rai, navigated by Slovenia’s Oslaj Viljem, nurse their Ford Fiesta through a river during the Equator Rally on Saturday (April 24, 2021). PHOTO/ANWAR SIDI/ NATION

The now focus shifts, over the next 57 days, to the final preparations for the WRC Safari Rally which will follow the recent round in Croatia, the Portugal rally on May 23 and the Rally Italia on June 6.

Meanwhile, driving VW Polo for the first time in his career, the Tundo, a five-time winner of the Safari Rally, was fastest in all but one of the 13 stages of the first round of the 2021 African Rally Championship series.

“I can’t remember winning a rally by such a big margin of 12 minutes. It was a great event with the right type of stages.” Said Tundo.

It was very unpredictable at times to concentrate with that sort of lead. The car was great to handle and drive.

“It was a big difference between my Evo10 and the Polo. I am sure I will have the same car in the Safari Rally with the help of Joey Ghose of the Minti Motorsports.’’ said Tundo.