Nairobi — As the world celebrated the International Women's Day on Monday, a group of Kenya women was busy preparing to storm the male-dominated field of motorsports. Their arrival on the scene has created quite some excitement with the 2010 KCB Safari Rally just round the corner.

Among them is Nehreen Ismail, one of the youngest navigators to make a debut in the Safari. The 21-year-old was busy at the Athi Plains at the weekend "bonding" with her VW Golf Gti.

She is the latest product of the San Valencia-sponsored Motor Sports Academy initiated by veteran rally navigator, Abdul Sidi, who took her through the weekend's training run. She will partner Gurmit Thethy in the Safari.

All-ladies crew

Several other students are also expected to take dive into the deep end in the Safari, one of the most famous rounds of the African Rally Championship after going through the free rally school. Also determined to make an impression is the all-ladies crew of Jedidah Weru and Stella Macharia.

The pair already have an accolade after finishing the recent KCB Kenya National Championship round in Eldoret, becoming the first local (African) women's crew to ever finish a Kenyan rally by coming home 19th in a Subaru Impreza. "I'm excited and making it to the Safari is a breakthrough for me," said Ismail. Weru and Macharia also graduands from the San Valencia.

Make history

"We want to make history by becoming the first African women's crew to finish the Safari Rally, and it doesn't matter even if we finish last," said Macharia on Monday. The Safari Rally, celebrating its 58th edition, and eighth since the Kenya Commercial Bank took over title sponsorship, will be launched tomorrow alongside the East African Rally Challenge.

Senior governments officials, ambassadors and representatives from Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda are expected to attend the launch at the Jamhuri Park Race Course from 11am. Rally drivers, led by former national champion, Azar Anwar, will also be present to entertain the dignitaries in a different fashion.

He will be assisted by his brother, Asad, Alfir Khan, Asad Khan and Susheel Shah among others in taking the VIPs on a spin around the circuit. Sidi of the San Valencia Motor Sports Academy will instruct the officials on how to use pace notes before they embark on a "career" in rally cars.

The Safari Rally was first held from May 27 to June 1, 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1960 it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Safari Rally.

The competition was part of the World Rally Championship calendar from 1974 until it was excluded in 2003 due to lack of funding and poor organisation. Since 2003, the competition has been part of the FIA African Rally Championship. Glen Edmunds is the only driver to have won the rally twice since KCB came into the fold seven years ago.

The late Shekhar Mehta was the most successful driver in the event's history with five victories (1973, 1979-1982). This year's rally will run over the Easter period. Nairobi's Jamhuri Park will have a twin track where two cars will race against each other for the first time since similar competition was held on the Karen track in the early 90s.

Fans around Makuyu and Thika will be bracing themselves for more action with the presence of extra international drivers from as far as Zimbabwe, Zambia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Kajiado and Ngong will host the final day's action. Besides KCB the other sponsors this year are National Oil Corporation, Iway, Highlands, Identisys, Car Track, KICC and Jacaranda Hotel.