Tinashe targets Safari Rally glory as she launches her continental campaign

 Kenyan rally driver Tinashe Gatimu says she is ready to take on Africa’s best after confirming plans to contest the full African Rally Championship season this year.

Tinashe, who competes alongside her mother and co-driver Caroline Gatimu, will line up in the ARC4 junior category as the championship roars to life at the Safari Rally Kenya.

The legendary event doubles up as the continental season opener before the championship moves to the Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally scheduled for May 7–10. The series will then head to the Mountain Gorilla Rally in July before concluding at Tanzania’s Mkwawa Rally in October.

With the ARC season marking her first full continental campaign, Tinashe says her ambition is clear. “We are going to do the full ARC circuit this year,” she said. “We are in the ARC junior category, so we’ll see if a win comes along the way in the category; we will be very happy.”

The young driver believes their participation is already challenging long-held perceptions about rallying.

“The fact that we are here shows this is not just a man’s sport. I am very ready for the ARC,” she added. Tinashe also said she is looking forward to experiencing rally culture across the continent as the championship travels through different countries.

“I am really excited to race in all the countries of the ARC. Being in all these other countries I haven’t been to before, except Rwanda and interacting with the people is really exciting.”

To gain more experience behind the wheel, the Gatimu duo plan to compete in additional local and regional events alongside their ARC campaign.

“We plan to participate in other rally events this year, like the Auto Cross, and it’s also a good practice ground to hone your skills,” she noted.

Tinashe’s growing promise was evident last season when she secured third place in the Buggy category at the RX Motorsport event. “Finishing in third place at last year’s RX is a step in the right direction because it means I am growing as a driver.”

She also competed in last year’s Mountain Gorilla Rally, an experience she described as valuable despite failing to finish the race.

“Last year, we did the Rwanda Motorola Rally. It was a good rally, the roads are very nice and fluid,” she said. “Unfortunately, we had an accidental and we could not finish, but hopefully this year we can go back and show Queen Kalimpiya what we have.”

Beyond the continental circuit, Tinashe is already setting her sights on rallying’s biggest stages. “The dream and goal is to get to junior WRC in races in other countries all over the world and fly Kenya’s flag,” she said. “Then after that, we get into WRC2 and finally the Rally 1 and become world champions.”