FIA driver Kimathi set to showcase his pace in Naivasha

Rally driver Maxine Wahome reacts when Kenya Airways and Safaricom unveiled young Kenyan drivers as hybrid raly car arrived at the WRC Safari Rally Kasarani headquarters on June 17, 2022. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

FIA Young Star Program driver McRae Kimathi is ready to show the world the kind of pace he has built after taking part in several Junior World Rally Championships Series races in Europe this season.

The youngster is not just determined to finish the sixth leg of the series, the Safari Rally, in Naivasha next week, but is also wants to end the grueling championships on a high note.

This year, he took part in high profile contests in Sweden, Croatia and Portugal.

“In Europe, I was mostly racing on asphalt and ice but in Naivasha I will be at home in gravel,” Kimathi told Standard Sports.

“Naivasha will be a familiar territory, it will be such a pleasure to compete at home.

“I promise to showcase all the experience that I gathered in Europe at the Safari Rally.

“Apart from eyeing the overall WRC title, winning in my WRC R3 class category will be a plus for me.”

Kimathi was speaking yesterday at Kasarani Stadium where, for the second year running, mobile services providers Safaricom and national carrier Kenya Airways came on board to extend their sponsorship to the FIA Young Stars Program drivers to a tune of Sh25 million and Sh20 million respectively.

Other drivers under the prestigious global program are the inaugural Lioness Rally champion Maxine Wahome, Hamza Anwar and Jeremy Wahome.

“I believe the partnership with the organisations is helping us drivers to grow,” Kimathi said.