Safari Rally great Vic Preston Junior dies aged 72

Former Safari Rally driver Vic Preston junior is dead.

The rally icon took his last breath on Tuesday night in Seychelles after what his family reported to be Pneumonia related problems.

Vic Preston Jr was a very well known figure in the rally circles here in Kenya as he first entered the iconic East African Safari Rally in 1966 aged just 16 in a Ford Cortina GT navigated by Gerrish Robert.

Born from a motorsport enthusiastic family, Vic Junior would go on to compete in several motorsport activities including Motorbike racing, following in his father Vic Preston Snr’s footsteps in becoming a champion.

He raced 21 times in the World Rally Championship category securing podium places twice, his last being in the Marlboro Safari Rally in 1980 and 9 retirements overall. His best finish in the WRC was in the 1978 Safari Rally when he finished second overall and first in Kenya.

He won a total of 16 rallies here in Kenya securing the podium places 25 times during his memorable career.

Vic Junior competed twice in the Great Britain Lindisfarne Rally, securing a stage win in 1973 and finishing third overall.

His father Vic Preston Snr, a one-time chief judge at the Concours d’Elegance was a Safari Rally champion, first taking part in the inaugural 1953 East African Safari Rally then called the Coronation Rally where he finished 80th.

In his 24-year rallying career, Vic Preston Jnr participated in numerous rallies here in Kenya and in Africa, ending his illustrious career in the 1990 Marlboro Safari Rally when he retired at position 11 over suspension problems in a Nissan 200 SX navigated by his long-serving co-driver John Lyall.