Tejveer Rai out of WRC Safari Rally after crash

Tejveer, fondly referred to as Tej, this morning crashed out of World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally after his monster R5 rolled several times at Kedong.

Tejveer went flat out before his VW GTI Polo nose-dived during the second day of the Safari Rally.

Initial reports indicated that Tejveer suffered non-life-threatening injuries after the crash.

He was however airlifted to Nairobi for treatment. His navigator Gareth Dawe also suffered minor injuries.

Following the accident, Rai’s father Jaswant Rai made his way to Aga Khan Hospital.

The business mogul is one of the top Kenyans who lobbied for the return of the Safari Rally to the WRC calendar.

Tej, who is considered a rising star, finished second in the ARC Equator Rally, which was a preamble to the Safari Rally Kenya return to the WRC calendar.

The Kabras Racing Team driver is the younger brother of Menengai Oils Team driver Onkar Rai.

Elsewhere, Thierry Neuville led Safari Rally Kenya on Friday morning.

According to WRC website, Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20, held a 5.1sec advantage over Kalle Rovanperä’s Toyota Yaris, but Kenya’s rugged roads showed they had lost none of their punishing power in the WRC’s 19-year absence. Championship leader Sébastien Ogier limped back to service after heavy time losses.

Neuville won the tight and twisty Chui Lodge and the blisteringly fast Kedong. Rovanperä spoiled the Belgian’s hopes of a clean sweep by topping the times in Oserian before the survivors returned for well-earned service in Naivasha.