Vrooom! Vrooom!! Sema kupea Subaru boys a run for their money. I thought nilikuwa nimeona machines but wuueh! WRC 2023 ilini-show the real deal. Let me tell you Maina, this rally brought my 8-4-4 Inshas to life. ‘ Ghafla bin vuu nilifunikwa na kijiblanketi cha vumbi’. The squad and I tulikuwa tuki-wipe camera every 2 minutes; tilting our heads with each drift and bend, ndio tusimiss any action.
It was only day one na mambo ilikuwa imechemka. We brought the vibes but to think we were the only ones ‘Feeling the roar’ Boy, were we wrong. Hapo kando there was the chief cheerleader; Shosh. “Haiya! ndiyo hiyo hapo, ndiyo hiyo …" She was giving main character energy.
Nilikua super excited, it being my first rally I wanted to catch the action happening everywhere. Nilitembea roho juu kucheki performance ya The Slum Drummers. It was one of those you had to be there performances juu describing would water it down.
Ile kitu ili stand out for me about this band ni eti these guys give back to mother nature by making their stage fits and drums out of recyclable materials.
Day one of WRC for me did the damn thing lakini kumbe day two was just chilling to outdo the doer.
Usafi nayo! Nakwambia KCB made sure unapatana na bins faster than kupatana na mtu wako.
Lesson learnt from day one, munchies first! Tulianza na base ya smokie pasua tunaingia ya chipo sema kujinice. Foodies wenzetu walikuwa wengi lakini thanks to KCB Till paying was so fast. Ka-jam kaliisha in no time. Vendors walikuwa wameitambua.
On this other side of the main event, you could feel the heat! The kings of the track had taken things to the next level. We rallied along with cheers cause our footsubishi clearly couldn’t match up with their speed. Driver wetu wa KCB, Nikhil Sachania was making us so proud, it literally felt like another episode of Fast n’ Furious – ‘Vasha edition.’
The rally-grounds was packed to fill. Ni kama pia watu walikuwa wamepata memo ya how to dress for day two. Matching jerseys, nakwambia couples walitesa kutesa. Pia sisi singles battalion hatukubaki nyuma, tulimatch na rally theme colors.
Day three ikifika, it really dawned on us kesho ni Monday, tunarudi Nairobi na tutaambia HR nini juu wengine wetu tulijipea leave tukuje Vasha.
There were a few honorary speeches from veteran rally drivers and honorable dignitaries. It was amazing seeing our leaders take the forefront in supporting this beautiful sport.
The moment that brought us all here had come and it was time to announce the winner of this high-spirited three-day event.
Our feeble hearts were pumping through our branded jerseys. Moments later, the announcer stepped in with ‘Ladies and gentlemen, give a round of applause for our winner Sebastian Ogier.’ Claps, whistles and cheers filled the surrounding areas. Nikhil Sachania, the KCB sponsored rally driver emerged third in Kenya and nineteenth globally. Wapi nduru weuweee!
Nikhil’s success journey is so moving. Go check out his story on YouTube "Motor Sport is for Everyone": The Story of Nikhil Sachania. My desire to attend the rally was inspired by his passion for rally racing.
We hit the road on our way home. As we journeyed through the Nairobi-Nakuru highway, it was clear that WRC 2023 was one for the books; an event that was for the people, by the people and of the people.
