McRae Kimathi focused on 2022 African Rally Championship

 

Rally driver McRae Kimathi before a past rally. [Courtesy]

FIA Young Star Program driver McRae Kimathi just can't wait for the second leg of the 2022 African Rally Championships (ARC) in Naivasha this weekend.

The round, dubbed Equator Rally, is so dear to him as he is out to defend his African Junior title.

Kimathi will also seek to guard his place in the continental showpiece following his impressive show in the circuit last season.

"I was the first African and Kenyan in that race after finishing last year's championships in eighth place," he said.

"My objective is to protect those titles as I aim for a better finish this year."

The 27-year-old believes the ARC leg will offer him an opportunity to strengthen his WRC Junior title ambition following his good performance in the WRC Rally in Sweden, which is the second round of the global motorsports series, in February.

The  Sweden race that snaked its way into the deep frozen and remote forests of the North-Eastern regions of the nordic country, boosted Kimathi's motorsports credentials as he is now the first Kenyan to ever complete a rally under such conditions.

"I'm looking forward to take part in the WRC Croatia Rally on April 21-24 and I believe ARC will give me the platform to bolster myself before I head there," he said.

While in Naivasha, the career accountant will comb the rough terrains of historic stages of Kedong, Sleeping Warrior, Elmenteita, Soysambu, Loldia among others, in his FIA gifted M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally 3 machine.

"I'm confident the Naivasha championship will boost my focus ahead of Croatia race," he said."

"I'm also working tirelessly to defend my ARC African junior crown there, so that's something I'm very keen and passionate about."

"I'll put into practice what I have learnt in Europe and keep improving to try and retain the titles," he said.

Kimathi will be navigated by Mwangi Kioni, who called out his pace-notes in Sweden.
The ARC Equator Rally will serve as a dry run for the WRC Safari Rally slated for June in the same location.

In as much as he would have loved to take part in several events in the ongoing Kenya National Rally Championships series, Kimathi is not sure of his participation due to a packed WRC series calendar.

Kimathi admits that his opponents in the WRC Junior series are more experienced and well-versed with European terrain.

"Most of the junior drivers have done the circuits before, so for me it's just to learn the new stages and gather as many points as possible to keep improving my pace and see where I end up in the season," he said.

"For now, we'll just build on it and take each event as it comes as every round for me will be a new experience," added Kimathi.