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Legend Mehta tastes maiden glory in dramatic style and luck
In this file photo dated April 20, 1981, Kenyan driver Shekhar Mehta (left) hits the first ever Safari Rally hat-trick with his third victory in a row and fourth one in the five-day 5,500 kilometre contest. His compatriot Joginder Singh had had three non-consecutive victories. Here, Datsun team manager Wakasaka (centre) congratulates the Datsun 160J GT Violet all-Kenyan crew of Mehta and co-driver Mike Doughty at the Kenyatta International Conference Centre finish ramp in Nairobi.
What you need to know:
- Few noticed a small Peugeot 204 in 1969 East African Safari Rally driven by a little known driver by the name of Mehta from Uganda, navigated by Rob Combes
- Mehta’s family was forced to relocate to Kenya later to escape the politically-instigated targeting of Asian by brutal dictator Idi Amin who overthrew the democratically elected government of Milton Obote in 1971
- Mehta who passed on in 2006 aged 64, was to become the most successful Safari Rally champion ever with five victories, four of them successive (1979-82), always driving Datsun cars
The Shekhar Mehta star didn't start shining overnight. It was a slow process which burst into blinding light after two years before a lull.
Few noticed a small Peugeot 204 in 1969 East African Safari Rally driven by a little known driver by the name of Mehta from Uganda, navigated by Rob Combes. Mehta finished in 27th.
