Maini’s Safari Rally dream turns true
Rajesh Maini’s Ford Escort during a round of the KCB Kenya National Rally Championships. Maini will drive his Ford at this year’s East Africa Safari Classic Rally which starts Mombasa’s Sarova Whitesands on November 23, 2017. PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- In just his seventh year of rallying, Maini, 44, will make his debut in the gruelling, 4,000-kilometre Safari that starts at Mombasa’s Sarova Whitesands Hotel on November 23.
Rally raid specialist Rajesh Maini is relishing a fresh challenge in next month’s Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally which will see the young driver accomplish a childhood dream.
In just his seventh year of rallying, Maini, 44, will make his debut in the gruelling, 4,000-kilometre Safari that starts at Mombasa’s Sarova Whitesands Hotel on November 23. “It’s always been my dream to do the Safari Rally ever since I was a little kid,” he says.
“I vividly remember at the age of four when dad took us round the Safari route to catch a glimpse of the classic machines zoom past remote Kenyan villages.
“So to brush shoulders — in a competitive atmosphere — with the same renowned Safari stalwarts like Stig Blomqvist and Ian Duncan who we adored back in the day, is a dream come true.”
Though excited at the prospects, Maini says he will keep a level head with the primary aim of bringing his home-refurbished Ford Escort Mark 1 safely back to the finish ramp on December 1.
“The essence for our team will be to finish the Safari Classic because as a team we will be a lot more conservative to drive within our limits. Our realistic target, though, would be to confine ourselves within the top 20 bracket, considering the fact that we are Classic virgins.”
“For this Safari, we will not fit in the power steering as both of us have been busy in the gym trying to enhance our body strength to endure nine days of competitive driving,” added Maini.
CAME TO FRUITITION
The driver’s dream to compete in the “world’s toughest marathon historic rally” was conceived many years ago, but the project came to fruition four years ago while supporting his friend Nish Lakhani on the Classic and he has never looked back from then on.
“It’s an absolute dream come true and I’m just so grateful and appreciative that the opportunity has presented itself,” Rajesh said.
The Ford Escort Mark1 will undergo a short performance test programme once complete.
The car is currently stripped to the shell at his Nairobi backyard.
“We will not risk bashing the car during any of the local events because the classic will be coming too soon,” said the Nairobi-based chartered building surveyor.
