Nairobi — Legendary rally driver Shekhar Mehta is dead. The driver passed on in his sleep in a London hospital on Wednesday. He was 61.

The news, which trickled into newsrooms late Wednesday afternoon, was greeted with dismay by motorsport enthusiasts.

Mark Tilbury, Chairman of the Rallies Commission, said:

"This is a great loss to Kenya and East Africa as a whole. It's unfortunate that his demise comes at a time when Kenya was preparing to bid for a place in the World Rally Championship calendar in 2008. We send our heartfelt condolences to his wife Yvonne and family."

Subaru Kenya Managing Director Ranganathan Sridharan memorialised Mehta as "a wonderful human being, fondly regarded by every member of the rally family."

Mehta was an unparalleled giant in East African rallying. More than anyone else, his exploits, particularly in the late 1970s to early 80s, contributed to the early popularity of the Safari in Kenya.

Driving his trademark Datsun, Mehta blazed into the history books as the first driver to win the event five times. His multiple wins over seasoned drivers from across the world made the Safari a treasured item on the Kenyan motorsport calendar and paved the way for latter-day local heroes such as Patrick Njiru and Jonathan Toroitich.

In his retirement, Mehta took up roles in motorsport administration with gusto and at his death, he was President of the rally commission of the world motorsport body, FIA.

Shekha Mehta and Rob Coombes in their Peugeot 205 near Bura, during the 1986 Safari Rally in which he finished eighth.

One of the causes closes to his heart was his advocacy for Kenya's return to the World Rally Calendar (WRC), a recurrent theme during his recent visits to Kenya.

In an interview with The Standard, Surinder Thathhi, FIA Africa's representative and Chairman of the African Rally Championship said the timing of Mehta's death was unfortunate, coming as it did only three months after his last visit to Kenya when he presided over the launch of the KCB-sponsored Kenya National Rallying Championship in Nairobi.

"He always showed Kenyan organisers the way to regaining the WRC status. We have lost a rally stalwart and it will be difficult to fill the void left behind," he said.

Born in 1945 to a Ugandan farmer, Mehta's family migrated to Kenya in 1973 to flee President Idi Amin's murderous regime. His maiden win in the Safari came the same year, when he clinched the Safari in his trademark Datsun 160J.

He later notched an incredible four consecutive victories between 1979 and 1982, securing his legacy as a giant of the local rallying scene. Later, he extended his exploits overseas, winning a number of major rallies across four continents.

Although his fondest dream was to win the Safari 10 times, his plans were shattered when he rolled in the Pharaohs Rally in Egypt in 1987.

He broke his collarbone and went into a comma for several weeks escaping death miraculously. He was airlifted to a Paris hospital and later transferred to London for full recuperation in 1988.

Mehta then settled into administration and was a well-respected name in the rallying world.

His widow, Yvonne, was at his bedside when he passed away.