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This year's event is scheduled for June 22-25.
Rally navigator Linet Ayuko has sighted the lack of support from the corporate world as the major setback to women in the sport.
Speaking on KBC, she noted that most ladies drop out of the rally to take up officiating roles because they lack sponsorship. She narrated the tricky balancing act of maintaining a rally car, saying that without support, it is overwhelming.
“With no corporate support, you can’t suffice. It’s unless you own a bank somewhere,” she quipped.
However, Ayuko added that companies are making efforts to come in and offer support which will witness more women making a return.
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Ayuko is also keen to make a comeback at this year’s Safari Rally after missing out on the 2021 edition of the event due to failing to meet the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) set standards.
During the scrutineering process in 2021, Ayuko who was Hussein Malik’s navigator, could not make the cut.
She said the experience was an eye-opener for her and many other drivers and navigators who were axed from the event. The event saw 13 Kenyan drivers axed including Daren Miranda, Stephen Mwangi, and Edward Maina.
“This year, I am looking forward to the event. Let’s see how things turn out because the event is two months away.
I believe the setback in 2021 came as a good lesson to me and the others that failed the test. It was an opportunity to learn what was expected. I am hoping that this year things will be better and we shall see more Kenyans,” Ayuko said.
For the longest time, motorsport has been known to be a male-dominated sport and Ayuko attested that it has not been a bed of roses for her. She highlighted some key things that help her keep the momentum.
“Discipline, time management, focus, and attention to detail. As a co-driver, you also have to be keen all the time and learn to easily adapt to changes considering you will need to adjust at any point,” she said.
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