Sachania is the best driver

Nikhil Sachania is the 2014 Motor Sportsman of the Year. Sachania was feted during the Kenya Motor Sport Federation Annual Awards gala in Nairobi at the weekend.

The 26-year-old becomes the first-ever physically-handicapped driver to be awarded one of the biggest gongs in the Kenya National Rally Championship history since it was first introduced in 1961.

“I am extremely pleased to have won this great award. It was a challenging year for me but I could not have done it without the support of my parents and friends. It is something I never thought or dreamt of after a near fatal accident several years ago,” said Sachania. 

 An accident during quad practice session around Athi River shattered his spine, crippling the young driver from the waist downwards.  

 Others recognised for their greater achievements in the sport included Tejas Hirani, for winning the Formula Gulf 1000 in Dubai and also for retaining the Autocross and Rally Raid Buggy titles. He also became the first Kenyan driver to compete in the famous Yas Marina Formula 1 circuit.

Karan Patel was voted the Most Improved Most Improved Rally Driver of the 2014 season for having won both the S Class and Division Three of the KNRC series respectively.

MOVED TO KICK-BOXING

Samir Anwar, who received the Motocross MX125 championship crown also announced of his retirement from the two-wheel-racing to concentrate on the professional sport of the kick-boxing.

 Chairman JS Vohra, who was among leading members of the Board of Directors of  KMSF, said: “Kenya’s motorsport still has a long and winding road to travel before reaching the pinnacle of the Federation’s dreams. We are working tirelessly to make the sport grow even bigger by also helping Safari Rally regain its lost status. We need everyone to work together to achieve this dream.”

Similar sentiments were shared by Gordon Olouch, the Commissioner of Sport, who said the Government was ready to ensure efforts of the organisers were supported to get Safari Rally into the international scene.

Multiple motorcycle champion, Shivam Vinayak, was crowned the Overall Enduru Champion, a fete he achieved on his return from a serious hip injury that almost put end to his racing career.

Baldev Chager and Ravi Soni collected the KNRC Overall Championship title for the second year running. Chager said his aim is to score a hat-trick though he sees the some of the young and upcoming drivers as some of the big obstacles in his attempt to retain the crown for the third straight year-running.