McRae Kimathi says his podium finish in the WRC3 category during the just concluded Safari Rally has elevated his confidence levels for the 2023 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) challenge.
Speaking during the final FIA presser in Naivasha, Kimathi said: “I’m satisfied with my position. The third overall wasn’t that bad. We set a target to finish on the podium and I’m glad we achieved it,” McRae said.
Asked about his immediate plans after Safari Rally, Kimathi Junior expounded: “Last year, we ran a full campaign for Junior WRC which was a great experience. This year, we want to focus on the Kenya National Rally Championship and give it our best shot. I still want to do part of the KNRC this year, so we’ll be entering Nanyuki Rally with the much-needed confidence, probably, we will go for the title in the near future.”
Kimathi retired in Saturday’s leg with steering problems but restarted on Super Rally after his team of mechanics managed to fix his Ford Fiesta Rally 3 in good time.
Diego Dominguez of Paraguay climbed to second in the WRC3 Championship standings with an assured drive to claim victory in the all-Ford Fiesta Rally3 category at Safari Rally Kenya.
The Paraguayan topped the time sheets by 55min 08.8sec ahead of Kimathi who alongside Hamza Anwar and Jeremiah Wahome, competed on home soil, failing to restart after their cars sustained terminal damage in the same Soysambu water splash on Saturday.
Kimathi, Hamza and Wahome are part of the Kenyan Rally Star drivers program sponsored by Safaricom and Kenya Airways.
Kimathi was elated to run a trouble free Sunday test.
“This was one of the toughest rallies I have experienced. There were deep ruts on Oserian and Malewa speed tests so we drove carefully in there. Safari is a long endurance event and not about speed. So for us, it’s a stage at a time.”
Trailblazing Kimathi was the first Kenyan to ever enter the FIA Junior WRC Championship and only the fourth African driver to ever compete in Junior WRC.
He is named after 1995 FIA World Rally Champion, Colin McRae, who became an icon to many Kenyans after taking three Safari Rally victories. Until arriving in Scandinavia ahead of Rally Sweden, Kimathi had never seen snow or ice before and attended the John Haugland Winter Rally School to help with his preparations.
BIO DATA
NATIONALITY KEN
Date of Birth 04.01.1995
Birthplace Kenya
FIA Junior WRC debut Rally Sweden (2022)
FIA Junior WRC wins -
FIA Junior WRC podiums -
FIA Junior WRC stage wins -
WRC3 wins -
WRC3 podiums 2
WRC3 stage wins 3
Co-Driver Mwangi Kioni
CAPTION
McRae Kimathi and Mwangi Kioni (left) hold their finishers trophies aloft