Motorsport is gathering renewed interest in Africa, and particularly in Kenya, with the organization of various rally editions and corporate sponsorships. In the recent past, two notable competitions have happened in the country: the Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) rally and the Kenya Airways Classic Rally Series,

But as a sport, motoring, like any other game, has its own requirements that range from the driver to the vehicle to be used in the competitions. Given that it is a specialized kind of sport, a lot of preparatory activities have to be put in place to ensure both safety and success.

In a bid to further understand the intricacies involved in the sport rally, Lubezine magazine had an occasion to interview renowned rally driver Mr. Azar Anwar, who provided a hands on perspective on what it takes to compete at the highest level, and the role a lubricant plays in the participating rally vehicle.

First, Mr. Anwar explained that rally cars need to be maintained well because they are rather expensive. He said that cost is one of the most daunting requirements for any aspiring rally driver.

“There is a wide spectrum of costs for rally cars, with the top rally car going for around 30 million shillings, excluding parts, transport or tax. This type of investment requires continued commitment in the part of the driver and sponsors to invest in these cars and race at the highest level, he said.

He added that while most rally competitions are held in tough roads, driving a rally car is unique, requiring different skills from those needed to drive a normal car. He dismissed the notion among new drivers often associating racing as just pressing the accelerator.

‘Racing drivers need to control the car not only at high speeds, but also in rough terrains while taking care not to breaking the car down. The driver must be very careful, alert and focused to drive precisely.

“The driver needs to know when to shift gears, how to approach a corner, how to approach stones and hazards, and how to slow down without wasting time. In rally driving, we don’t race against each other; we race against time. The winner is the one who takes the minimum time, unlike a track” Mr. Anwar explained.

He said a lot of money is spent to keep the car in good condition, which makes it a big challenge particularly if a driver does not have

a sponsor, adding that the money is spent on modifying the car to become safer, reliable, and faster while meeting international rules governing rally cars.

“Some of the parts that are modified include the exhaust system and engine management for mapping, giving the car its characteristic sound as opposed to a normal car. Special air cleaners, good suspensions, and safety features like fire extinguishers and safety belts are added, he said.

Mr. Anwar revealed that racing engines need to extract more power, making them to burn more fuel. Here, according to Mr. Anwar, fuel quality is a very critical consideration. He said that since some of the fuels offered in service stations have many contaminants, they not suitable for racing as racing engines need more octane and consistent quality.

“Drivers with limited budget use normal fuel to rally, but lose out on not getting the good performance they require from the engine. Top rally drivers use half gas, which is fuel used in small aircrafts. Not necessarily because it is a superior fuel, but because it has a consistent octane number (normally 100LL). This enables the driver to map the engine and tune it to the highest. Using a fuel with a lower octane number while racing will make the pistons