Legendary rally driver Shekhar Mehta is dead

LONDON: Popular East African rally driver Shekhar Mehta died in a hospital here on Wednesday.

Mehta was 61 and survived by his his wife Yvonne. Mehta won the famous East African Safari Rally in 1973 and later made history by becoming the only person yet to win the event four times in a row -- 1979, 1980, 1981 and 1982.

He was an unparalleled giant in East African rallying. More than anyone else, his exploits, particularly in the late 1970s and early 80s, contributed to the early popularity of the Safari in Kenya.

Driving his trademark Datsun, Mehta blazed into the history books as the first driver to win the event five times.

His wins over seasoned drivers from across the world made the Safari a treasured item on the Kenyan motorsport calendar and paved the way for latter-day local heroes such as Patrick  Njiru and Jonathan Toroitich.

After his retirement, Mehta took up roles in motor sport administration with gusto and at the time of his death he was President of the rally commission of the world motor sport body, FIA.