Born and raised in Meru County, Phineas Kimathi attended Nkubu and Ikuu high schools for his O and A level secondary education.
Kimathi later joined Kenya Utalii College, where he received a scholarship to study for a Higher Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management at the Greenwich College, London, in 1986.
Kimathi is a renowned safari rally driver and the current Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the World Rally Championship.
He first made his Rally debut back in 1994 Safari Rally. In his prime, Kimathi was among the best Kenyan rally drivers, completing three rallies where he finished in position 13 in 1994, 18 in 1999 and 14 in 2000 and was a celebrity in his own right during his rallying days.
In addition, Kimathi gave Hyundai their first national motor sport title worldwide in the KNRC F2 in 1997. He was also the first person to win the F2 title in a WRC event for Hyundai McRae.
The Safari Rally driver retired from competitive racing in 2016, where he raced with his Subaru Impreza under the San Valencia team since 2000.
Kimathi was at the helm of the World Rally Championship (WRC) when it returned to Kenya in June 2021 after a 19-year break.
Kimathi’s rally spirit was passed on to his son McRae Kimathi, named after the fallen British legend Colin McRae.
His son was named the KMSF Motor Sports Personality of the Year, 2019 at the annual awards ceremony at Carnivore, Nairobi.
Further, he was also appointed as a member of the World Rally Championship (FIA WRC) Commission of the International Automobile Foundation.
Kimathi was the first black man to serve in the FIA and was among six representatives who were placed in charge of Africa and the Middle East and was crowned the 2019 Kenya Motor Sports Federation Personality of the year.
The WRC event injected an estimated Ksh6 billion into the economy, creating employment for thousands and improving the economy of not only Nakuru County but also Kenya at large.
During his tenure, Kenya was able to pen a deal where the country shall host the WRC for the next five years.
Despite his rally career, Kimathi is also the founder and Chief Executive Officer of San Valencia Restaurants and Corporate Caterers.
