WORDS BY WAIRIMU NYATHIRA, EDITOR
The annual awards ceremony of the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) will take place on Saturday, January 27 at the Carnivore Restaurant in Langata Nairobi.
The renowned award ceremony, which has been honoring racing icons for many years, will celebrate the 2023 champions in various categories organized by KMSF, including Tarmac Racing, 4X4, Autocross, KNRC (National Rally series), and National Rally Raid and Karting championships.
The highly sought-after honor at the gala will be the prestigious Motorsport personality-of-the-year 2023 award. The true identity of the motorsport figure is typically shrouded in secrecy until the gala evening when it is finally disclosed.
In the previous year, Karan Patel was recognized as the motorsport figure of the year after securing his first national rally championship and coming in second place in the continental ARC series, trailing behind Leroy Gomes from Zambia.
Karen Patel was also crowned the LG/ SJAK Sports Personality of the Month back in November 2023.
Several drivers deserve recognition for their outstanding performances in the previous season, such as Kenya’s National Rally Champions, brothers Jasmeet and Ravi Chana, as well as the overall champion of Rally Raid, Tim Jessop.
Neel Gohil, a rising star, will be honored for achieving an exceptional feat in the Kenyan National Autocross category. He will be joined by Eric Bengi (4WD-T), John Kadivani (Open), and Azaad Manji (2WD-T) in the celebration.
Neel achieved a groundbreaking feat in the 2023 season by becoming the first 15-year-old to secure two championships. He dominated in the 2WD NT Buggy and 2WD NT Car autocross divisions, while also securing a runner-up position in the two-wheel drive category of the RX Championship.
The karting champions who will be recognized for their accomplishments on the track are Wilf Alobo (in the bambino category), Rio Bixente (in the cadet category), and Krrish Vadgama (in the Rotax Junior category).
The reigning champions for the previous year on the tarmac track were Leroy Otto in the 4-wheel drive category and Moses Mwendwa in the 2-wheel drive category.
Attendees of the event are kindly reminded to take their seats by 5:30 pm so that the main program can commence promptly at 6 pm.
