Tejas Hirani (R) with CEO Olsbergs MSE Andreas Eriksson (L) when signing the deal on Friday, January 8. PHOTO/JOE MIANO MUCHIRI
NAIROBI, January 8 – Motorsport teen star Tejas Hirani has signed a two-year contract with the biggest World Rally Cross racing team Olsbergs OMSE in the junior team.
Hirani who makes history as the first African driver to join the world RX lites series is set to start the season when he departs for Sweden on January 20.
Speaking Friday when signing the deal, CEO/Team Principal of Olsbergs MSE, Andreas Eriksson expressed confidence in the 17-year-old outlining he can be one of the successful drivers in the sport.
“I believe Tejas is one of the new stars, I believe he can be one of the guys that in a couple of years will be dominating guys in the sport. Stars that come from the sport come up through RX Lites that Tejas will drive this year and then further up to the super cars,” Eriksson declared.
Eriksson who selected his son, Oliver and Hirani as the only two drivers in the world to run the junior team, urged the pair to go through all events on the RX lites Series for them to become complete drivers.
Hirani had a remarkable racing year in 2015 that attracted Olsbergs OMSE when he travelled to Europe to participate in three rounds in Italy, Spain and Turkey.
“I’m humbled and excited at the prospect of taking part in the upcoming championship as the first and only African; this is a dream come true for me and I would like to thank all my sponsors and especially Olsbergs MSE, my trainers and everyone who believed in me throughout my journey. My goal is to win the championships,” an elated Hirani underscored.
He gained entry after participating in a Lites test day which was organized by First Corner in Istanbul last December.
Since then, the African driver has taken the opportunity to compete in Supercar Lites and was the first Kenyan and the first driver in the World Rallycross arena last year.
Having previously competed in Rally Raid and stage rallies as well as the Formula BMW Rookie Program, Hirani shifted seamlessly to rally cross.
He impressed despite never competing in any races under this format where four competitors at a time race in a tarmac and gravel track with the Joker-lap is the most challenging aspect of the course.
Last year saw plenty of success where he collected three championships including the Formula Gulf held in the Middle East region, the Kenyan national auto cross, rally raid and collected his first heat win in Italy.
He boasts a very impressive racing record of 52 wins, 81 podiums, eight national championships and one international championship.
