Chief Safari Rally medic has work cut out

Safari Rally Chief Medical Officer Raj Jutley (centre) with Jack Harvey, now with IndyCar in USA (left), and Derek Walters, Manager of Racing Steps Foundation at Donnington Park, UK during a F3 test. Jack co-drove with Jutley in a stage rally in UK the year he won the BDRC award. PHOTO | ANWARI SIDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • In 2003 and 2009, Jutley wrote two books alongside luminaries such as Colin McRae and Mark Webber, Red Bull F1 on motorsport driver preparation and emergency care, and the books are currently used for training in motorsports circles. 
  • “For the Safari Rally, I train on behalf of MSA UK for all things medical, and have recently been nominated at FIA as their RTP (Regional Training Provider) to enforce the appropriate medical standards. 

Raj Jutley, who is in charge of the medical team at the World Rally Championship Safari Rally, will be counting on his rich experience to meet stringent competition conditions when the rally holds next year.

The 48-year-old open heart surgery (cardio-thoracic surgery) expert will head a team of 40 doctors and paramedic staff as the Chief Medical Officer for the Kenya’s round of the World Rally Championship (WRC).

A team of special medical experts is always present in motorsports, which is considered as one of the most dangerous sport in the world.

“My task is a major duty in the Safari Rally. It includes training, recruiting, and planning and executing emergency medical services in line with FIA (International Automobile Federation) requirements. 

These requirements are stringent with strict adherence to equipment, qualifications of personnel and location of resources,’’ Jutley explains to Nation Sport.

“For example, I have to ensure there is a MIV (Medical Intervention Vehicle) every 10 minutes in all live stages with a doctor capable of resuscitation with the mandatory equipment as per FIA rules supported by the correct paramedical staff. I also deliver the training to marshals and Safari officials on First on Scene training.”

Apart from having worked in various hospitals in Kenya, Jutley is also constantly on duties in the United Kingdom and India, depending on the complexity of the cases.

“The preparation (for the WRC Safari Rally) has been challenging as medical/safety standards have fallen behind considerably with limited human and physical resources available to run the event,” he explains.

“I sit at the Rally Control Headquarters alongside the Clerk of the Course and Chief Safety Officer, watching the cars in live action.

“In the WRC this includes onboard cameras for the leading drivers as well as live tracking that also gives me feedback on G-forces in x, y and z directions to give an indication of frontal, rear and downward damage when a crash happens.

“I can then mobilise a helicopter within seconds to assess the crash site while establishing communication with the crew and any marshals that may be in sight of the incident.

“My team includes over 30 ambulances, 20 doctors two helicopters with one always on standby. At the Rally Headquarters, we have dedicated police presence to deal with matters that may be in their docket.”

Jutley has performed similar duties for several years in Scotland and England. 

In 2003 and 2009, Jutley wrote two books alongside luminaries such as Colin McRae and Mark Webber, Red Bull F1 on motorsport driver preparation and emergency care, and the books are currently used for training in motorsports circles. 

“For the Safari Rally, I train on behalf of MSA UK for all things medical, and have recently been nominated at FIA as their RTP (Regional Training Provider) to enforce the appropriate medical standards. 

“In August last year I delivered our first regional Medical and Safety in Rwanda.” 

‘Medical Points’ are some of the most important points in the sport of rallying where every 10 minutes movement translates to between three to seven kilometres. 

“I have in place the MIV with trained staff, mandatory equipment, medicines as well as light cutting gear. 

“The Medical Interventional Vehicle (MIV) is positioned with the TIV (Technical Intervention Vehicle) that will carry heavier cutting equipment for disincarceration in the event we need to extract the casualty from a damaged car by cutting it.”

“As I competitor I have competed in the Safari Rally when it was part of the WRC in the late ‘90s. I continue to drive/navigate in local and regional events and am presently leading the South African National Rally Championship Classic Class. 

“I have also competed in international events such as Barbados and notably the RAC in UK Commission I am part of the Kenya Rally Raid Commission and have recently enjoyed creating other motorsport experience.”

The 2019 candidate event was a very tough task to do while under the scrutiny of FIA as we had to prove to them and the world that Safari Rally was an event as safe as any other in the calendar. 

“What helped as well was an unfortunate incident at Rally GB 2018 where a child was seriously injured during the event and I helped to resuscitate him before the helicopter arrived.  

“This was in full view of many senior delegates and they discovered that our Kenyan doctors are pretty much world class, which they are. “Other than my official duties at rallies, mostly in UK, I have driven in three Safari Rallies back in the day when it was still part of the WRC.  

“But things have changed dramatically. To keep up with my skills I have to attend mandatory FIA CMO training every 2 years.  

“I was in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2018 and I’m due to attend the same meeting in Munich, Germany, later this year, all being well.”

“Other than the medical standards for Safari Rally which are very stringent, we now have to deal with Anti-Doping. 

“Each FIA event now has to have a Doping Control Station as per FIA rules right down to how the room should look like. We have also trained six chaperones in the procedures should the FIA ask for a competitor or official to be tested. 

The testing is a detailed play between the Chairman of Stewards, the Chief Medical Officer and the DCO (Doping Control Officer) which in our case is a representative of ADAK (Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya). 

Other than the WADA list of banned substances we will also be introducing random alcohol testing for both competitors and officials.  

“In Africa only six tests had ever been conducted and in 2019 during the candidate event we added three more.

“So we’re pretty clued up now with the procedures. It’s worth mentioning that the FIA Medical Delegate was very pleased with how we ran the event with accolades especially to the team on the ground run by Dr David Karuri, the Deputy Chief Medical Officer (DCMO).  

“We have a fantastic team who remain enthusiastic despite the challenges they face on the ground.” 

As a consultant, Jutley has supported this 10-year initiative funded by Graeme Sharp with the late John Surtees, Damon Hill to develop talented but underprivileged young drivers in UK to the highest level. 

The initiative has had massive success.

Examples include Oliver Rowland presently with Nissan in Formula E World Championship, James Calado, FIA Endurance World Champion with Ferrari and Jack Harvey racing in Indy 500.

It is a responsible project for developing their team working and communication skills by mentoring the youth in a high pressure cardiac operating theatre.

“Precision Hydration was created as a startup to maximize driver performance with optimal hydration. It provides athletes with bespoke solutions based upon their unique genetically determined sweat sodium levels. I co-founded Precision Hydration in UK which now has sweat test centres on all continents and clients including Formula 1 teams, national rugby squads, Premiership football teams, Olympians and thousands of weekend warriors.”