Veteran Safari Rally driver Jayant Shah dies at 78

Former legendary Safari Rally driver, Jayant Shah is dead.

Shah, the 78-year-old driver, was flown in from Arusha and admitted at the M.P. Shah Hospital in Nairobi with Covid complications last week, passed away on Saturday night.

The Managing Director of Aircraft Leasing Services (ALS), Aslan Khan, who navigated Shah at the height of his rallying career, said it was a very sad moment for him and the entire motor sport fraternity.

“Jayant was a very good driver and respectful person with whom I enjoyed my rallying career. We won the Himalayan Rally in India three times, thrice the Kenya National Rally Championship and we were jointly voted Motorsports Personality of the year twice in 1981 and ’82,’’ Khan told Nation Sport.

Khan, also a renowned rally driver added: “Yes, I am aware that our best years of rallying were together. We finished fourth Overall and top Kenyans in the 1983 Marlboro Safari Rally. Two years ago we were invited to drive the same Nissan 240 RS in Eiffel Rally in Germany.

His passion was rallying and continued with it right up to the last Classic Rally. He never compromised on doing his best. He was always smiling and happy in the rally environment. An amazing humble person, he will be greatly missed.”

Great loss

After his stay in Kenya, Shah migrated to Arusha where he ran a very successful textile factory until his sad death on Saturday.

Phineas Kimathi, the Chairman of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation and CEO of the WRC Safari Rally, said it was a sad moment for motorsports following Shah’s death.

“This morning we woke up to the sad news of Jayant Shah's demise. Shah will be remembered for his competitive nature and great accomplishments in motorsports. He was humble and took time to enjoy his life and the sport he loved. On behalf of myself and Kenya Motor Sports Federation, I send my condolences to the family. May his Soul rest in eternal peace," Kimathi said.

FIA Vice President, Surinder Thatthi also expressed his sadness

“It is big loss to all of Africa. Our sincere condolences to Jayant Shah's family and the Automobile Association of Tanzania (AAT), Confederation of African Countries in Motor Sports  (CACMS). Africa will miss this successful driver," Thatthi told Nation Sport.

Shah was a very well known Safari Rally driver having contested 11 of the Kenya’s major events and retiring only four times. He tackled the local series mainly in the Nissan models like the Datsun 160J, Nissan 200SX and Nissan 240RS. Until recently, he was very much actively involved in the East African Classic Safari Rally in his Porsche 911.

Shah participated in several of the International rallies where he performed commendably well. He took part in the Zambia Rally, Zimbabwe Rally, and Argentina Rally Acropolis Rally as well as Tanzania events among others.

He was the Two Wheel National Champion in Tanzania during the 2014 and 2015 seasons respectively.