Kenya's all-women crews marvel in Safari adventure

The WRC Safari Rally has always brought about a lot of excitement and enthusiasm among local rally fans and followers around the world as the best drivers are put to test by the punishing rocky and gravy Kenyan roads.

The 2023 Safari has once again proved to be a brutal test for the world's best vehicles and drivers who have faltered when pushed to the limit in various stages so far.

But away from the excitement of the rally 1 cars and the subsequent classifications, there is something magical happening in this year's Safari rally, as the Government through the Talanta Hela initiative sponsored a host of all-women crews to help grow the sport among the gender.

After Saturday's morning loop, Citizen Digital caught up with the duo of Tinashe Gatimu and her mother-navigator Caroline Gatimu as they cooled off awaiting the afternoon loop.

These two have already elicited  excitement in rally circles here in the Safari and season-driver turn navigator Caroline Gatimu tells me how the experience has been being on the seat across.

"The experience has been awesome. It's pretty interesting reading notes for the first time and I'm trying to be as careful as I can because one wrong note and you do something wrong so I'm trying my level best to keep up with her pace," remarked Gatimu.

The biggest reason for her careful approach might be the motherly instincts kicking in but she says she has stage by stage gained confidence in her daughter's car handling skills especially for such a challenging rally.

"I kind of held back a little bit in the opening stage at Kasarani but now that I have seen she can handle the car, I'm telling her, let's go. She's not faster than me but she is quicker than I expected."

The mentorship journey hasn't been easy for both and Tinashe has grown bit by bit culminating into making her debut in the world's most prestigious rally; the Safari rally.

"She started following us long time ago since she was a kid. When she turned 16, she said she was now interested in cars and started out in Autocross at 17 years and later graduated to the two-wheel drive. When we got the chance to do the Safari, we just agreed amongst ourselves decided we swap seats for mentorship purposes and also for visibility because she has a long way ahead in her career."

Tinashe has been juggling between school and rallying and she says she's gotten the perfect balance while eyeing her future in rallying.

"When it's time for school it's time for school and when it's time for rallying then it's time for it. As long as the line doesn't blur everything is good. Hopefully I'm future I will be able to join the WRC junior championship and later grow up to rally 1."

Tinashe isn't the only new comer in the Safari rally, Jennifer Malik is a budding  rally cross driver who has gotten her first chance to experience the Safari adventure.

"It has been an amazing learning experience for me because this is my first WRC event so I'm getting so challenged but it's really good fun. All the ladies are pushing the cars, were trying to advertise ourselves; just trying to get good and clean finishes with good times."

Jennifer is used to street racing and she says tackling the Safari is a whole different encounter.

"For tarmac it's totally different because that one you flat out but here you have so many corners and it's gravel. You're getting tight corners so you need to be really fast, downshift and play with the gears and I'm honestly enjoying it."

Seasoned lady driver Tash Tundo who is the younger sister to five-times Safari rally champion Carl Tundo says having more lady drivers in the Safari has been a breathe of fresh air.

"It's amazing. The camaraderie that we all have; we've all got each other's backs and it's so nice because it's a male dominated sport and the more we can get females in, the better."

Linet Ayuko is an experienced navigator here in the country and this time she's calling the notes for Media guru cum rally driver Pauline Sheghu.

"My ultimate goal is to call the notes well and get my driver to the finish. We are gelling and it's good to see her back in the seat again and we are working together properly."

Despite where they finish in the Safari, this is a huge step forward in growing women motorsport in Kenya.