Joe Kariuki: First-time rally driver who surprised many during WRC event

Joe Kariuki: The man who surprised many with his performances during WRC safari rally

 • First rally driver Joe Kariuki surprised many by finishing 8th during WRC Safari rally.

 • With his esteemed co-driver Ngugi John in tow, a man renown in the Safari Rally circles, Joe awed the audience with his rally dexterity.

Joe Kariuki
First time rally driver Joe Kariuki

It is already a few days since the curtains closed on the much anticipated WRC safari rally event in Naivasha.

But as the exciting event came to a resounding close, new names came into light as old names got relegated to the Safari Rally backwaters.

the WRC safari rally drivers at KICC
President Kenyatta flagging off the WRC safari rally drivers at KICC
Image: PSCU

One of those names is Kenya's Joe Kariuki, a first-time driver, who surprised many by emerging the 8th best driver from Kenya (and Africa at large) in a race populated with some of the finest and most experienced rally legends.

With his esteemed co-driver Ngugi John in tow, a man renowned in the Safari Rally circles, Joe awed the audience with his rally dexterity.

His favorite race car, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX, streaked across the tracks, meandered into the bushes, emerged from walls of dust, and circled the entire ranch with the skill and expertise of a race maven.

in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Joe Kariuki in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX
Image: courtesy

"For a first time race driver, this is quite something. I'm personally shocked at my personal results. This was a very tough race and I was competing with some of the best names in the world of Safari Rally across the world. It was an honor getting to race these decorated legends. Seeing myself on the tracks, being up against some of these names that I only got to see on TV, it was a very surreal moment.

I'm still awed and shocked at how it all turned out. I'm humbled and honored by just how amazing we managed to do. To be on that list is a huge honor, really. It wasn't for the weak, " an elated Joe Kariuki, said.

finished 8 at the WRC safari rally
Joe Kariuki finished 8 at the WRC safari rally
Image: courtesy

The rally enthusiast, who also is a farmer said that his days of thorough preparations had finally paid off.

" I rehearsed like crazy. I went days without sleep. I knew that I was racing alongside people like Carl Tundo, people like Ogier Sebastien, and people from all across the world. You can't afford to sleep with such a reality ahead of you," the first-time competitor said.

"We trained hard. We worked hard. It wasn't easy, Kedong is not easy, its one of the toughest terrains in the world. You can imagine the strain it put in Josiah but he was able to hold himself down and perform wonders, I'm so proud of him and all the people we raced against, " John Ngugi, Joe's co-driver, said.

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