Virani promises more after bagging 2021 award

Virani promises more after bagging 2021 award

Aakif Virani in action during a past rally event. [Photo / Courtesy]

Division One champion Aakif Virani targets more this year after winning the 2021 Motorsport Personality of the year.

The Skoda Fabia-R5 driver was crowned in a colourful ceremony which was held at the WRC Safari Rally secretariat in Kasarani, Nairobi last Saturday.

Virani who is a businessman based in Nairobi was voted for the award by Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) competitors license holders and Commissions.

The champion defeated his closest challenger Carl 'Flash' Tundo, who emerged the winner during the last year’s Kenya National Rally Championships (KNRC) and the African Rally Championships competitions respectively.

Virani promised to up his game more this season. “It’s such a great feeling to be recognized for my hard work. I hope to shine more in 2022 season.”

Aakif registered his maiden KNRC win during KCB Nanyuki Rally 2021 after Tundo was disqualified for being pushed from the end of the power stage by Jasmeet Chana.

Linet Ayuko was voted the best Navigator in the KNRC after finishing tin top 10 for many years.

Ayuko, who navigated Maxine Wahome in Division Two and Hussein Malik in Division One, got more points in the Division Two navigators championships but failed to meet the 75% threshold to be eligible for a title.

Division One driver Mcrae Kimathi was awarded the FIA ARC Junior Championship for Drivers as well as the FIA ARC 3 title as his navigator Mwangi Kioni dominated by the ARC 3 Championship for co-drivers.

Phineas Kimathi, the Chairman of the KMSF, who double as the Chief Executive Officer of the World Rally Championship Safari Rally, expressed his happiness with the way the sport was run last year.

“As a nation, we are very proud of our sport. We are the only country in Africa to have fulfilled 100 percent of our motor sports commitments. It is a proud moment for us all,”

Kimathi however, announced the scrapping of KNRC Premier Class which has been replaced by the existing Division One Class.

The award ceremony was graced by the chief guest the Sports CS Amina Mohamed.

Tags:

Skoda Fabia-R5 Aakif Virani Carl “Flash” Tundo Linet Ayuko

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