Ex-World Group N champ Mevius keen on driving Zero at Safari Rally
Gregoire de Mevius and Alain Guehennec race at the East Africa Safari Classic which was held in Athi Rriver on November 24, 2013.
What you need to know:
- Gregoire de Mevius, who raced in the 1989 Safari Rally in a Mazda 323 4WD navigated by Abdul Sidi, however said he would be keen to drive Zero (route opener car) in next year’s Safari Rally
- The 2021 FIA World Rally Championship calendar was revealed on Friday, with Croatia announced as a first-time host
- Safety cars should normally only use road books and other printed information supplied by the event organisers
Former FIA World Group 'N' Champion Gregoire de Mevius does not intend to tackle a World Rally Championship event like the Safari Rally any time soon.
The Belgian, who raced in the 1989 Safari Rally in a Mazda 323 4WD navigated by Abdul Sidi, however said he would be keen to drive Zero (route opener car) in next year’s Safari Rally.
“I think no more WRC events for me though it would be great if I got the chance to drive my Toyota Celica as a Zero car next year in the Safari Rally,” Gregoire told me on phone from Belgium.
When contacted, the CEO of the WRC Safari Rally, Phineas Kimathi said it was a good idea but the team would need to look for a sponsor to bring the car and crew to Kenya.
***
Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed has been elected to the World Motor Sport Council, a key governance organ of the International Automobile Federation (FIA).
Besides being Safari Rally CEO, Phineas Kimathi also sits on the FIA’s World Rally Championship Commission as one of six representatives of organisers.
***
The current membership of the FIA’s World Motor Sports Council is: Jean Todt (France, FIA president), Graham Stoker (Great Britain, FIA deputy president - sport).
Vice Presidents: José Abed (Mexico), Mohammed Ben Sulayem (United Arab Emirates), Carlos Garcia Remohi (Argentina), Angelo Sticci Damiani (Italy), Surinder Thatthi (Cote d’ Ivoire), Hermann Tomczyk (Germany), Heping Wan (China)
Titular members: Manuel Avi (Spain), Garry Connelly (Australia), François CORNELIS (Belgium), Dennis Dean (USA), Nicolas Deschaux (France), Michel Ferry (Monaco), Zrinko Gregurek (Yugoslavia), Victor Kiryanov (Russia), Hugo Mersan (Paraguay), Koichi Murata (Japan), Gautam Singhania (India), Vincenzo Spano (Venezuela), Serkan Yazici (Turkey) and Amina Mohamed (Kenya).
Other members are: Michèle Mouton (France, president of the Women in Motorsport Commission), Chase Carey (Ireland, Formula One Group), Mattia Binotto (Italy, president of the FIA Manufacturers' Commission), Tom Kristensen (president of the Drivers’ Commission), Felipe Massa (Brazil, CIK President).
***
The 2021 FIA World Rally Championship calendar was revealed on Friday, with Croatia announced as a first-time host.
Estonia is also included in the 12-round series after being called-up at short notice to host a widely-praised post-lockdown restart event in September. It was the Baltic state’s first WRC event.
Kenya’s iconic Safari Rally and Japan, which were both included in this year’s schedule but cancelled due to the pandemic, are also listed. Spain returns after a year’s absence. Kenya’s Safari Rally will run from June 24 to 27.
***
Did you know that...
Rally Safety Cars must always keep to their pre- determined time schedule and ensure that they adapt this to compensate for any delays in the running of the event. The closer an event is kept to schedule, the safer it becomes.
Safety cars should normally only use road books and other printed information supplied by the event organisers. They should not have access to or be using any subjective route notes/pace notes.
