Not all rosy for Lee Rose in Classic Rally garden as he goes back to wheat farming

 

Lee Rose and Douglas McNeil in action in Laikipia County, February 12, 2022. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

Former Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) winner Lee Rose has been out of motorsport competitions for a while.

The 2003 and 2004 KNRC champion made a surprise return to the sport at the ongoing East African Safari Classic Rally, whose Day 8 will land in the pristine beaches of Watamu, Kilifi County today.

Rose, who is making a debut to one of the toughest motorsport events in the world, has surprisingly given a good account of himself.

He made a great leap in Day 6 on Tuesday when he moved from 11th to sixth.

His former navigator, Piers Daykin, is equally upsetting form books in the event as he also landed in third place, behind legend Ian Duncan and competition leader Baldev Chager.

Despite his impressive return to the sport after a protracted period, Rose said he will not continue with the sport.

"I'm going back to wheat farming in Nakur; this is what is paying my bills including schools fees for my children," said Rose, who shuttles between Kenya and South Africa, where he also has business interests.

"Don't expect me in the KNRC series or the WRC Safari Rally this season," he added.

Through farming, Rose is furthering his father's legacy. His father, John and Carl Flash Tundo's father, Frank, who is still in contention at the ongoing East African Safari Classic Rally, were great wheat farmers in the lakeside town of Nakuru and Maralal.

They were also rally drivers to reckoned with in their heydays, a sport they diligently passed on to their sons.

Rose has hailed his debut in the Classic Rally, saying it has given him an opportunity to test the waters after being out of competition for a while.

"It was one of my bucket lists that I have ticked. I have learnt a lot and I'm enjoying the event," he said.

"I started the contest badly by making silly mistakes in the early stages, but managed to find my leg from Day 5," he said.

Rose still relishes rallying, which he begun when he was 23.

"It was an awesome experience. I still remember my first rally when I was 23 years old, in 1999. It was the first night of the WRC Safari Rally and we were bombing down a road at 180kmh around 11pm at night and had a complete electrical failure, luckily, we finished the event in 20th position."

Rose has competed in Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda and South Africa.

"Safari Rally is and has been a huge part of my life. Like many Kenyan families, Easter was synonymous with the Safari Rally. We as a family have been involved in the event on one way or the other, since I was a youngster."

"I was later involved as a service crew member and as a driver. Africa is home; where I come from and belong."

Among the cars he has competed in are Subaru Impreza, Mitsubishi Evo 4, 8, 9 and Ford Escort Mk2. 

He has also driven other vehicles both modern and classic- Porsche 911, Datsun 240Z, Ford Escort Mk1 to name a few.

His favourite cars are Evo 4, Evo 9 and Escort Mk2.