NAIROBI, Kenya, January 14- Veteran classic driver Aslam Khan is the shock Motor Sports Personality of the Year 2011.
This was the second time that Aslam has won this trophy after winning it jointly with Jayant Shah in 1982.
Khan, a former Kenya Air Force pilot and who turns 61 in June was lost for words as he held the trophy coveted aloft.
Khan won the Classic Car Cup for the second time last season with his brother Arshad Khan in a Porsche 911. He has seen the motor world morph through different guises since launching his career in the 1970s.
“I wish to thank the KMSF competition license holders for nominating me for the award.
I had actually given up motor sports 25 years ago but thanks to my brother Arshad who encouraged me to come back to rallying,” said Aslam the classic rally driver.
Aslam beat two other nominees Ian Duncan and Shivam Vinayak. He won the KCB Classic for the second time last year and previously in 2008. It was double victory for the Khan family as Samira Khan won the Ladies Rose Bowl for the most meritorious female competitor. Aslam is Samira’s uncle.
Guest of Honour Sports Minister Dr Paul Otuoma urged the KMSF to continue to expose the spirit if fair play and show compassion and support for those who are less fortunate. Otuoma also revisited matters of road safety which is in line with the FIA Action for Road Safety.
“I wish to call on all Kenyans to observe road safety in all that they do. As we continue with our quest for to get the Safari Rally back to the World Rally Championship event, road safety must be among the priority areas.
“The International Motor sport Organization (FIA) has also come up with an initiative called Time For Action on Road Safety. We must all embrace this slogan to make our motor sports environment safety for all people, and to help us reduce on the road carnage that each year takes thousands of lives of innocent Kenyans,” said Otuoma.
KMSF Chairman Dave Macharia urged the government to support the development of the sport countrywide. Macharia said KMSF intends to take motor racing to all counties countrywide.
The occasion also feted all champions in respective motor sports disciplines.
Ivan Guya was feted for being the MX125 motocross championship. Keith Henrie won the National Autocross Championship.
2011 MERIT AWARDS
1. Neil Granger Brown – Most Improved Motorcycle competitor- Cruize Muigai
2. Most Improved Autocross Competitor Samir Khan
3. John Ngunjiri Memorial – Most consistent crew-Ian Duncan/Amaar Slatch
4. Tanveer Alam Memorial – Most Improved Rally Driver-Sandeep Jandu
5. William Kimaru Memorial – Most Improved Co-driver Gurdeep Mehangra
6. Mike Vaughan Ryall Memorial – best rally organization:- Equator Motor Club – Simba Union – Guru Nanak
7. Johnny Hellier Memorial – Contribution to Motorsport Abdul Sidi
8. Kulwant Singh Chana Memorial – Media contribution Pascal Mulwa
9. Ladies Rose Bowl – Most meritorious Lady competitor Samira Khan
10.Motor Sport Personality of the Year-Aslam Khan
11. The KMSF Directors Award- Bob Dewar
THE 2011 CHAMPIONS
MOTOCROSS: Mx50-Maina Wanjigi; Mx65-Rolf Kihara; Mx85-Apollo Mbuki; Mx125-Ivan Guya; Mx2- Cruze Muigai; Mx1-Shivam Vinayak.
ENDURO: Shivam Vinayak; Enduro 125-Shaun Miller, quads- Shazar Anwar.
AUTOCROSS: Keith Henrie, under24-Charles Mugo.
CROSS COUNTRY: Cars driver: Nish Lakhani; cars navigator: Hunter Hannman; bikes: Shivam Vinayak, Quads: Shazar Anwar, Buggy- Ian Duncan;
KNRC: 2WD navigator- Kimeli Korir, 2WD driver-James Kirimi; Classic Car Cup navigator-Arshad Khan, Classic Car Cup driver- Aslam Khan; Group S Navigator- George Njoroge, Group S driver- Jasmeet Chana, KNRC Div 3 driver- Sandeep Jandu; KNRC Div 3 navigator-; KNRC Div 2 driver-Onkar Rai, KNRC Div 3 navigator-; KNRC navigator-Amaar Slatch, KNRC driver- Ian Duncan.