A full plate for Africa FIA boss

Members of the Confederation of African Motor Sports (CAMS) met in Nairobi last weekend. Among the issues discussed was the African Rally Championship series.

The CAMS president, Surinder Thatthi of Kenya, was recently re-elected to the board of directors of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation. He is also the FIA vice-president for Africa. He talked to the Saturday Nation.

‘Saturday Nation’: What difference will your position make now, having been part of the same outfit almost a year ago before you stepped down?

Suriner Thatthi: The directors have had positive meetings to look at the way forward. I would like to contribute to making motorsport in Kenya better. Rotation is healthy as one comes back with new energy to work.

As the FIA Africa vice-president, what is your vision for Kenyan motorsports?

Being in the FIA at one of its highest levels puts us in a better position to lobby for Kenya and Africa. I’m mainly trying to bring the WRC series back to Kenya.

Without a World Rally Championship status Kenya lacks the exposure its drivers used to enjoy. What are your feelings on this issue.

For Kenya to be reinstated into the calendar, it first has to organise an event which fits into the new vision the FIA has for the WRC.

They are talking about moving away from the David Richard’s ISC format of a condensed rally, which resulted in many rallies such as the Safari and Monte Carlo losing their endurance character.

Can KMSF do more for Government to assist the Safari organisers?

KMSF is run by volunteers. We need someone who is dedicated to lead such a WRC project and can work with the KMSF to lobby the government and to show them the benefits we can derive from the vast TV coverage that WRC can give to Kenya.

What sort of budget are we looking at?

Off the top of my head, around Sh150 million to Sh200 million each year.

You have played a big role in the ARC. How do you see the series?

The ARC has grown in the past 7-8 years with participation of well prepared, competitive Group N cars. The events now have safety tracking and are well organised. With the return of South Africa in 2011, we hope SA manufacturers will soon come to compete in the ARC.

You are an expert in marathon events – the Classic Safari Rally and now to Morocco. Why don’t you put similar efforts in the Safari?

Safari Rally is run by the KMSF. We as marathon organisers could easily run the ARC Safari Rally if the KMSF decides to tender it out.

What are the thrills of officiating at the Formula One races?

F1 is definitely the pinnacle of the motorsport pyramid. As a steward one has to make very quick decisions. The glamour of Formula One is sometimes lost to us for we are in the stewards room working.