Uproar over KMSF's 'compromised' awards with legend Tundo leading the protests

On Saturday 15 January, the Motorsport family converged at their Kasarani offices for the annual Motorsport Personality of the Year Awards where Aakif Virani was crowned. 

While his crowning raised eyebrows, having finished fourth overall in the championship, but won his Class, in a year where Kenya had the Africa Rally (ARC) champion and the World Rally Championship 3 (WRC 3) champions, it has emerged that voters might have been comprised  

Aakif Virani named motorsport personality of the year 2021

Barely 48 hours after the award, ARC winner who also doubles as the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) champion, Carl 'flash' Tundo has taken to social media to bemoan the manner in which the annual award was conducted. 

"In one quick vote we have made the prestigious Motorsportsman of the Year trophy worthless and an embarrassment to the generations of great names on that trophy. From legends who bought WRC back to Kenya to past champions and Safari rally winners it is a disgrace to them all. 

We have voted for someone in an ultimate machine who came 4th in the championship who went out and lobbied for votes pre-ceremony!. Never in my many many years in motorsport has anyone lobbied for votes for this award," Tundo wrote.  

Contrary to previous awards that are subjected to a panel of selectors who come up with the personality of the year, this edition was decided entirely on the votes cast by the license holders.

A Skoda Fabia-R5 driver, Virani sealed the KNRC Division One Championship with two legs to go and also bagged his maiden career victory in Nanyuki following the disqualification of Tundo, Baldev Charger and Jasmeet Chana. He was disqualified in the Thika Rally, the penultimate event of the series. 

"Maybe you voted because he won an appeal against a stewards decision? Again, some might say I am bitter as it affected me, again this is NOT the reason for my rant! Let’s put this into perspective, there are rules in motorsport and appeals and protests happen all the time - should someone then be awarded a prestigious trophy like this because he won an appeal?," Tundo futher questioned. 

Many who agreed with the record-time KNRC champion, airing their views on his post, felt that he and Onkar Rai were more deserving of the award. 

Rai steered clear of trouble on the final day of action to confirm an emotional WRC3 victory at Safari Rally. He set a sizzling pace from the get-go in his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. After edging out a healthy lead during Friday’s punishing leg, he consolidated his position with a pair of fastest stage times on the penultimate day. 

Oh his part, Tundo had finished third in the WRC3, sealed another KNRC title after picking points in seven of the nine legs and romped four back-to-back wins in the ARC to be crowned 2021's champion and become the fifth Kenyan driver to win the title after Manvir Baryan (2017, 2018, 2019), Don Smith (2016), Jaspreet Chatthe (2015), and David Horsey (1984).

"We were not lacking excellence last year. From competitors and organisers that excelled in the spectacle that was the WRC Safari Rally and on the FIA stage, to men and women that have dedicated their lifetime to Motorsport in one form or other. 

To Individuals that have shown and inspired us with such strength and courage through their own their personal life battles! Mediocracy has won, which does not sit well with me! This is my honest opinion and for some reason I feel I need to share it," he concluded. 

Questions now linger on whether the claims of lobbying hold any water while leaving Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) with egg on face.