•Katto lauded the country for its efforts towards regaining WRC status, terming it a major milestone for the East African region.
•Mwirigi confirmed that the lender will renew it’s sponsorship package for 2020.
Phineas Kimathi has described his presence in the roll of honour of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation best Personality as a milestone for his motorsport career.
The KMSF chairman and WRC Safari Project CEO was over the weekend named the Motor Sports Personality of the Year, 2019 at the annual awards ceremony at Nairobi’s Carnivore celebrated a strong year of sporting achievement.
Kimathi spearheaded the campaign which won back Kenya’s World Rally Championship status after an 18-year hiatus.
“This is by far my biggest achievement in my motorsprt career. It couldn’t have come at a better time when Kenya is in the middle of delivering another world class event. I am humbled by the award. It has come as a pleasant surprise and I wish to dedicate it to my family, the WRC Safari Project and the Kenya Motor Sports Federation Board for their support to ensure we got the Safari back. I have travelled to more than 30 countries trying to lobby for the event and I’m glad that the effort has come to fruition,” Kimathi said.
Courtesy of the WRC Safari Project, a joint venture between the Kenyan Government through the Ministry Of Sports and KMSF evolved to fit the modern-day WRC requirements. The ocassion also fêted all champions in respective categories of the sport.
Baldev Chager was crowned the 2019 Kenya National Rally Champions while Ravi Soni won the 2019 KNRC Navigators’ Award.
Isa Amwari bagged Division Two crown while Jasmeet Chana won the 2019 Group ‘N’ Award.
Sahib Omar was crowned the 2019 KCB autocross champion while Kunal Patel won the 2WD Turbo category..
CAS Hassan Noor Hassan on behalf of Sports CS Ambassador Amina Mohammed said: “The Government will continue supporting the man and machine game to ensure the sport ‘races ahead’ with global requirements.”
Ugandan rally legend Emmanuel Katto was the special guest of the event courtesy of KMSF. Katto lauded the country for its efforts towards regaining WRC status, terming it a major milestone for the East African region.
KCB Bank Kenya who are title sponsors of the Kenya National Rally Championship and Autocross Championship were represented by marketing and communications director Angela Mwirigi who confirmed that the lender will renew it’s sponsorship package for 2020.
KCB will sponsor the 10 legs of autocross, the WRC Safari and indeed the eight round of the Kenya National Rally Championship.
KNRC CHAMPIONSHIP
Main Class
Drive Baldev Chager
Co - Driver Ravi Soni
Division 1
Driver Amaar Haq
Co - Driver Victor Okundi
Division 2
Driver Issa Amwari
Co - Driver Shameer Yusuf
Division 3
Driver Geoff Mayes
Co - Driver Suzanne Zwager
Group N
Driver Jasmeet Chana
Co - Driver Ravi Chana
Group S
Driver Sohanjeet Puee
Co - Driver Adnan Din
SPV
Driver Nikhil Sachania
Co - Driver Deep Patel
2WD
Driver Daren Miranda
Co - Driver Wayne Fernandes
KNRC RAID
Prototype car
Driver Ross Field
Co - Driver Robbie Calder
Modified car
Driver Joost Zuurbier
Co - Driver Rosaline Zuubier
KENYA NATIONAL KARTING CHAMPIONSHIP
Myles Imbayi (60cc Comer)
William Kim (Junior Rotax)
Autocross
Zameer Verjee (2WD NT)
Kunal Patel (2WD T)
Shahib Omar (4WD T)
Yuvraj Rajput (Bambino)
Tsorav Soni (Per Wee)
Imran Hakada (Open
Wayne Fernandes (Quad)