Kenyan-born UK surgeon arrives to support drivers
Service crews of driver Kishen Bhandari work on his Datsun 1600 SSS in preparation for the East African Safari Classic, which starts this week from Mombasa. Inset is Dr Raj Jutley. Photos/ANWAR SIDI
What you need to know:
- The cardiac surgeon, an expert in rehydration, will work with Aslam Khan, Rommy Bhamrah
Dr Raj Jutley, a Kenyan-born surgeon now operating in one of the UK’s major hospitals, arrives on Thursday morning in Mombasa as personal doctor to a team of selected drivers participating in the Kenya Airways East African Safari Classic Rally, which starts on Friday.
Jutley, who is a consultant cardiac surgeon from the Nottingham City Hospital, is also a consulting doctor working with the Porsche Human Performance at Silverstone in England.
For the KQ-sponsored East Africa Classic Rally, Jutley has been commissioned by four of the leading entrants preparing for one of the toughest marathon rallies in the world.
The 38-year-old doctor will monitor the health, diet and energy related drinks for the four drivers, Aslam Khan, Rommy Bhamrah and foreign drivers Steve Perez and Geoff Bell
‘’I will cover them in an emergency medical capacity as well as for hydration and cooling. We will provide air and ground support during the event along with a medic, Gary Chilton,’’ Jutley told the Daily Nation in a telephone interview from England.
Cooling vest
To keep the drivers in normal cooling temperatures in a car where temperatures rise to extreme levels, they will use 800g light-weight motorsport cooling vests that use Arctic Heat technology from Australia.
Perez, Khan, Bell and Bhamrah will wear these jackets during the rally to improve comfort, reduce sweat output and increase endurance. The vest has been used by Porsche Carrera Cup guest drivers in the Porsche Mobil1 Super Cup in Abu Dhabi, and a MotoGP entrant in Malaysia.
Jutley competed as a driver in the Safari Rally when it was part of WRC in the 1990’s - 2000’s. He has also competed as a driver in the Middle East Rally Championship. He is an approved emergency doctor for national/international stage rallies in the UK.
He works alongside top-class sports scientists Andy Blow and Eliot Challifour to develop elite athletes and top level drivers. His current and previous clients include Mark Webber of Red Bull F1, Jenson Button and Fernando Alonso from Formula One.
Bradley Smith, the runner-up in MotoGP 125cc World Championship and several other upcoming talents, are also his clients.
He is currently working on a technology for sweat analysis product alongside Elitech UK. This product tests the salt levels in sweat, which then guides the making of rehydration drinks specific to the driver.
Kenyan driver Aslam Khan has problems with recurrent cramping during hot races and was tested fully at the Porsche Human Performance laboratory in Silverstone. He now has a high-electrolyte drink made particularly for him, which has stopped the cramping. Perez posted his career best of 11th overall during the recent WRC Rally GB.
Dr Jutley is currently in discussions with the Ford WRC Rally Team and Force India F1 for their driver hydration and cooling in 2010. He is the author of Fit for Motorsport and Motorsport Fitness Manual.
Surinder Thatthi, the chief architect of the marathon event, has finalised his plans, having put much of his efforts into safety aspects of the whole organisation at the end of 28,000 kilometres of recce. The rally itself will be nearly 4,500 kms long.
His safety outfit includes two fully equipped ambulances, a helicopter, two doctors, four Accident Trauma qualified nurses and 150 police officers per day (for a total of 1,350).
The medical outfit will be headed Dr. Harjinder Chagger, one of the leading FIA-licensed doctors in Formula One and Touring Car races.
After the start from Mombasa on 23 November, the crews’ first stop will be at the Taita Hills Lodge. From here drivers will tackle more competitive stages leading to Arusha for the end of the second day competition. The third and fourth day action will be based around Arusha.
The sixth day action will see cars visit stages through Kajiado and Ngong leading to Naivasha thus disconnect Nairobi from this year’s route plans.
Naivasha will host the seventh and eighth day competition respectively before heading back to Taita Hills via Ngong and Kajiado. The final day will see crews move back to Mombasa in time for the prize-giving ceremony.
With Access Kenya joining hands with Kenya Airways to support the event, everything from route survey to hotel accommodations have been put in place by the organizers.