A Safari Rally driver was airlifted to hospital, on Saturday, June 24, after sustaining injuries in the ongoing WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha.
The driver of the Ford Fiesta Rally 2, who was competing in the second leg of the rally, crashed at a high-speed section in the last phase of the race.
Secretary of State Functions, Mike Gitonga, told Kenyans.co.ke that the driver incurred critical injuries but was stable and being monitored by doctors.
"Expect a major gridlock on Naivasha Road. A driver has been injured but is in stable condition," the Secretary of State Functions stated.
The driver crashed between Kikopei and Gilgil, a stretch that poses difficulties to most rally drivers.
Paramedics arrived at the accident scene in an ambulance and immediately began offering first aid to the driver. The doctors, prior to recommending him to be airlifted, checked whether his vital organs were injured and how severe were injuries were.
A privately operated chopper then landed in the middle of the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway, blocking traffic as the rally driver was airlifted for further medical attention.
Reports claimed that the driver was speeding along the Elmenteita-Nakuru stretch of the rally route before Gilgil town when he lost control and crashed.
The Nakuru Safari Rally is the seventh round of the 2023 World Rally Championship. This year's edition started on June 22, with enthusiasts enjoying nearly five days of pure thrill.
Over 19 special stages were contested, covering a total competitive distance of 356.98 kilometres. The stages located in Nakuru County had a variety of terrain, including gravel, tarmac, and dirt.
Particularly, the terrain was challenging, as the weather was unpredictable. The drivers also had to contend with the large number of spectators who lined up near the stages.
The penultimate leg, on Saturday, June 24, was marred with downpours in the early hours. As of June 24, M-Sport Ford duo Ott Tänak and Pierre-Louis Loubet, Grégoire Munster and Kajetan Kajetanowicz, were among the drivers in the top 10.
