We are not appreciated, says navigator Tosif Khan

On most occasions during rallying championships, it's the drivers craft and expertise that is highly praised leaving the co-driver as a lone figure.

Immediately after embarking off their earth tearing machines, we (the media) rush to interview the drivers and put their images and those of their cars on the front pages of newspapers, tabloids and digital sites.

It's for this reason that the newly crowned Kenya National Rally navigators champion Tosif Khan feels their role in winning championships isn't truly appreciated.

"I'll put it out there, I don't think we are well appreciated. Everyone just knows drivers drivers. I always make fun with my friends that we are like the Makanga's in the car. No one wants to know who we are, but again it's teamwork."

Tosif Khan who navigated Karan Patel to KNRC championship this year, says their role is much more than people appreciate and says there needs to be more recognition of their work in the car.  

"I appreciate for Karan always appreciating me; he's always putting it out there which is a good thing but almost 99% of the navigators are not known or appreciated for the work they do. We don't get the recognition that we deserve because it's all about the drivers.

"I know they play an important role but what happens without a co-driver next to you? Are you gonna drive at the same pace? But anyway it's the world we live in and we will take it as it is."

Khan who was navigating rally legend Steve Anthony in the just concluded East African Mini Classic Safari Rally's Zero car, said the experience of being in the Zero(0) car was different to that of navigating in the championship.

"Classic rallying is totally different, we race on tulip notes. As for the national events we actually have recce, we make our pace notes, we can amend the pace notes but here you are given your books and you're driving blind; so you have to be really on it and thankfully they weren't using the GPS as they did during the main classic so navigators had an important role to play in this event and most of them have proven they can do it so again this is where you see the role of a navigator is quite important," Khan said.

A Zero car in rallying terms is usually the first car that commences every stage clearing the route and traffic for the rest of the rally cars.

"There is a lot that comes to play. For classic for instance you get your amendment the night before the stage, so you sit down, go through your road book, you make your changes and you have to be on it from the word go because you've not done recce.

"You've to be checking where you're going, your distances, at times you get the trip meters are off on distances. Once you're done with the stage, you have to calculate your distance and manage your time for the service in readiness for the next stage," Khan explained.

Khan will be hoping for another stellar season alongside Karan Patel as they bid to defend their KNRC title.