The 2024 Kenya National Rally champion Samman Singh Vohra will compete in the WRC Safari Rally in honour of his late father and family.
Samman and his elder brother Saveer lost his father together with five family member including their mother, grandfather, grandmother and aunt - all within 11 months.
Between November 24, 2017, and October 22, 2018 the two Vohra brothers lost their father JS Vohra, the Managing Director and Owner of the Sarova Hotels Group on November 24, 2017 in a road accident near Isinya while he was officiating the East African Classic Safari Rally which he also owned.
“My late father JS Vohra was not just synonymous with business, he was famous in motorsport for being a director at the East African Safari Rally Limited as well as the Chairman of the Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF),” Samman recalled last week while explaining why he is competing in the Safari rally and motorsport.
“My father was our hero, and I started my motorsport journey with him. We started the dream together in 2015, and despite losing him in the sport, I still do this sport in his memory to keep his legacy and name alive.
“The second accident happened on our way from Makindu Sikh Temple where we had gone for a memorial service for our father on October 22 2018. A lot of people ask the same question on how that impacts on me?
“Despite the tragedies as a family, our journey has been one full of zeal and passion, and hence, the mantra stayed the same whereby you've got to pick yourself up and keep on going.”
“Definitely, there is risk involved in motorsport, but it’s just about your mindset and thereafter the precautions you take. As a team, led by my brother Saveer, we leave no stone unturned when it comes to safety. That's our biggest priority.”
Despite the loss of the family, the Vohra brothers Saveer and Samman, who are at the helm of the The Vohra Group have continued JS’s business legacy which is supporting this rallying programme.
“We are very grateful to the Vohra Group and its subsidiary companies which continue to back our motorsport campaign,” he said.
Uasin Gishu County Governor Jonathan Bii (right), flags off Samman Vohra navigated by Alfir Khan in a Skoda Fabia, at the start of the Eldoret Rally on February 17, 2024.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
“I'd like to carry on driving to the best of my ability and hopefully win some championships that will keep JS Vohra’s name up there, both in the sport and in the business world,” said Vohra who will be navigated by British professional Drew Sturrock.
“We are ready for the 2025 WRC Safari Rally and look forward to a positive result,” Samman said.
Kenya has a strong team of six drivers competing in the Rally2 category led by five times Safari Rally champion Carl Tundo, twice Africa champion Karan Patel, 2023 Kenya champion Jasmeet Chana, fast rising Hamza Anwar, Jeremiah Wahome, Nikhil Sachania and Aakif Sachania.
“As you know, we had to pick up the pieces at a young age after losing the family and carry on with the businesses. We wake up every day with a purpose in life, knowing that there was a foundation that the family left us and it's our humble responsibility to grow that foundation.
“We wait for the one day on the one weekend when we jump in the rally car, do a few stages, then park it back in the workshop and back to the office.
“As a team, led by my elder brother Saveer, we all worked tirelessly to get the car back into factory condition, in readiness for the Nanyuki Rally which we eventually won quite convincingly by about four minutes 45 seconds,” he recalled.
“Since then, it's just been building our confidence and growing our pace. We look forward to the 2025 WRC Safari. The 2024 season was unique in the sense that there were fewer competitors and events.
“It is rather unfortunate that motorsport in Kenya is suffering at the behest of corruption, mismanagement and glorified egos. As you know, we barely had 10 cars per event last year.”
