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Kenya: Bhalla Happy With Safari As Country Awaits FIAVerdict
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The Nation (Nairobi)
3 July 2008
Posted to the web 3 July 2008
Twincam
Nairobi
Ashok Bhalla, the Clerk of the Course for this year's KCB Safari Rally, is a happy man after accomplishing one of the most difficult jobs of his rally management career.
However, Bhalla says his agony now is to wait for the final report on the rally from the International Automobile Federation (FIA) which will either shatter or fulfil not only his dreams, but those of the entire rallying community in Kenya.
Any consideration by FIA for Kenya to regain the World Rally Championship status will heavily depend on the outcome of the report complied by Germany's Wulf Biebinger, who was in Kenya as the official observer from of the world motor sports governing body.
FIA reports on the previous Safari Rallies, since Kenya lost WRC status in 2002, have been distasteful especially on matters touching on the timing system and other minor organisational errors.
To eradicate any similar reports, a new timing system was introduced in this year's round of the African Rally Championship by Kenya Motor Sports Limited (KMSL) in addition to other improved services.
Bhalla said he was encouraged by the response from the drivers at the end of rally after having raised no serious issues similar to the ones which had marred the 2007 Safari Rally. He thanked the Kenya Rally Drivers Association for its support in making the event run successfully.
Kenya's hopes of regaining the WRC status also hinge on the performance and subsequent evaluation by the FIA of the other two countries, Russia and Poland, which are also vying for the coveted WRC status.
If the official FIA reports on the Safari, which are expected to be released in the next few days, are favourable, then Kenya may get the chance to run the 2009 Safari Rally as a FIA-sanctioned candidate event before achieving the full WRC status, probably in 2010.
Meanwhile, Bhalla's next assignment will be to represent FIA in Zambia, which will play host to the final round of the 2009 African Rally Championship. "It is something I have enjoyed over three decades and will be looking forward to revisiting Lusaka once again," said Bhalla.
Bhalla has visited most of the countries in Africa as an official since he stopped competitive rallying in 1979. He regrets not finishing any of the Safari Rallies in his three attempts notably with Davinder Singh (Joginder's brother) in an Opel Kadett in 1978.
This year's Safari Rally was his first event as a the chief Clerk of the Course after having spent several years as Deputy under some of the legendary names like Peter Hughes, Mike Doughty and David Morgan.
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He played major roles in running events such as the Karibuni Rally, Jamhuri Rally, and Coca Cola Rally among others.
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