Article and pictures of the great man
Safari Rally hero Shekhar Mehta dies in London
Story by TWINCAM
Publication Date: 4/13/2006
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Five times Safari Rally winner and top world rally official Shekhar Mehta died in London yesterday. Surinder Thatthi, who sat with Mehta in the International Automobile Federation's World Rally Council, said he was informed of the death by Mehtas close friend in London, Jonathan Ashman, who also chairs the FIA's World Touring Car championship.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
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Shekhar Mehta in a recent photo
Photo/File[/FONT]"I got the news at 4 pm, Kenyan time, just minutes after he was pronounced dead in a London hospital, said Thatthi, a former rally navigator.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Mehta the most successful Safari Rally driver of all time was taken to hospital a fortnight ago suffering from hepatitis C. He is said to have developed pneumonia later before his death yesterday.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]The 61-one year-old Mehta leaves behind a son, Vijay and wife Yvonne. He was last in Kenya in February during the launch of the Kenya Commercial Bank sponsorship deal for this year's Kenya National Rally Championship. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]At the time of his death, Mehta held several posts at the FIA headquarters in France. He was president of World Rallies Commission, acting president of the World Rally Championship and vice-president of the FIA.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Veteran Vic Preston Junior, who competed against Mehta during the toughest days of the Safari Rally, was among the leading rally drivers to send condolences to the bereaved family. [/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
[FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]"We have lost one of the biggest names in the history of the Kenyan motorsports. He was a legend, said Preston. His sentiments were shared by Jim Heather-Hayes who has been part of Mehtas winning team for many years.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT]
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Shekhar Mehta rolls off the ramp in a Datsun 710 during the 1979 Safari Rally
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It is sad and shocking. Mehta was fantastic person and one of the best-ever known Safari Rally drivers outside Kenya. Mark Tilbury of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation said motorsports had lost a big personality.[/SIZE][/FONT][FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1][/SIZE][/FONT] [FONT=Arial,Helvetica][SIZE=-1]Mehta won the Safari Rally in 1973, 79, 80, 81 and 82. His last Safari Rally finish was in 1986 when he finished eighth overall in a Peugeot 205. The 1987 event was the last time Mehta competed in his favourite rally. Lofty Drews, Mike Doughty and Rob Coombes were among his leading navigators.[/SIZE][/FONT]
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Extremely sad news.
