Shah to grace EA Classic Rally

By FEVERPITCH REPORTER

Former Kenya National Rally Champion Jayant Shah, will grace the Kenya Airways Safari Classic Rally next year.

The 68-year-old Arusha-based industrialist is set to give participants a run for their money when he returns to the Kenya Airways Safari Classic Rally in November next year.

Spotted during the recent Tanzanian Guru Nanak Rally in the outskirts of Arusha, a febrile Shah said he is tired of living in the shadows of East Africa Classic Safari Rally greats. With an insatiable hunger for rally success, the East African legendary driver insists he’ would be gunning for a podium position at this year’s Classic Safari.

To keep his dream alive, he has not only restricted himself to the cockpit but has adopted a strict exercise regime.

The driver has been testing his 2,600cc 1971 model of Datsun 260Z in selected rounds of the 2010 Tanzanian National Rally Championship, navigated by Kenyan Ravi Chana.

Winning the classic class during Rally of Tanzania in February, emerging fourth overall in the Rally of Tanga and finishing eighth at the Guru Nanak Rally this year has since encouraged Shah to participate in the Classic Safari Rally.

GOOD PREPARATION

"I will rely on good preparation, hard work, experience and dedication," said Shah, who took a long sabbatical in 1991 following a head-on collision with a train in Eldoret.

Jayant has participated in 25 editions of the East Africa Safari Rally and boasts of a career-best fourth position in 1984, navigated by Aslam Khan of Kenya.

He is one competitor who has seen rally technology change through time, but his love for classic cars makes him return to the rally course time and again.

He has participated in all the four editions of the East African Safari Classic Rally since inception in 2003 and is itching to drive next year.