Shekhar Mehta
Encyclopedia
Chandrashekhar "Shekhar" Mehta (20 June 1945–12 April 2006) was a Uganda
n-born Kenya
n rally driver
. He won the Safari Rally
a record five times (1973, 1979–82), including four consecutively, and in 1981 finished fifth in the World Rally Championship
. A Kenyan of Asian
descent, he was born in 1945 to a family of plantation owners in Uganda, and began rallying behind the wheel of a BMW aged 21. In 1972 he and his family fled Idi Amin
's regime to Kenya
, the year before he clinched his first Safari Rally title.
He was born in a rich business family, to Khimji Mehta and was grandson of Nanji Kalidas Mehta
, scion of Mehta Group
. He married his sometime co-driver Yvonne Pratt in 1978 after a ten year courtship, and they had one son, Vijay, in 1991.
Through the most successful period of his career he drove Datsun
cars. He won the inaugural African Rally Championship
in 1981, and the Cyprus Rally
in 1976. He was on the podium at the 1981 Rally Codasur, twice at the Acropolis Rally and three times at the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
. His career came to an end in 1987 after a nearly fatal crash at Rallye des Pharaons
, Egypt
while driving for Peugeot
.
After his driving days were over he held various administrative positions at the FIA
. He became president of the FIA Rally commission in 1997, and was re-appointed as interim President of the World Rally Championship
commission shortly before his death. He died in London
on April 12, 2006 from liver
problems, hepatitis
, and illness relating to complications from an old injury.
Uganda
Uganda , officially the Republic of Uganda, is a landlocked country in East Africa. Uganda is also known as the "Pearl of Africa". It is bordered on the east by Kenya, on the north by South Sudan, on the west by the Democratic Republic of the Congo, on the southwest by Rwanda, and on the south by...
n-born Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n rally driver
Rallying
Rallying, also known as rally racing, is a form of auto racing that takes place on public or private roads with modified production or specially built road-legal cars...
. He won the Safari Rally
Safari Rally
The Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika, as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II...
a record five times (1973, 1979–82), including four consecutively, and in 1981 finished fifth in the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
. A Kenyan of Asian
Asian people
Asian people or Asiatic people is a term with multiple meanings that refers to people who descend from a portion of Asia's population.- Central Asia :...
descent, he was born in 1945 to a family of plantation owners in Uganda, and began rallying behind the wheel of a BMW aged 21. In 1972 he and his family fled Idi Amin
Idi Amin
Idi Amin Dada was a military leader and President of Uganda from 1971 to 1979. Amin joined the British colonial regiment, the King's African Rifles in 1946. Eventually he held the rank of Major General in the post-colonial Ugandan Army and became its Commander before seizing power in the military...
's regime to Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
, the year before he clinched his first Safari Rally title.
He was born in a rich business family, to Khimji Mehta and was grandson of Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta
Nanji Kalidas Mehta was an Industrialist and Philanthropist from Gujarat. He was founded the Mehta Group of Industries in Uganda, now having its head office in India.-Lifesketch:...
, scion of Mehta Group
Mehta Group
The Mehta Group of Companies commonly referred to as the Mehta Group is a conglomerate based in Mumbai, India with subsidiaries in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Kenya and Uganda. The group employs in excess of 15,000 people worldwide and has an asset base in excess of US$350...
. He married his sometime co-driver Yvonne Pratt in 1978 after a ten year courtship, and they had one son, Vijay, in 1991.
Through the most successful period of his career he drove Datsun
Datsun
Datsun was an automobile marque. The name was created in 1931 by the DAT Motorcar Co. for a new car model, spelling it as "Datson" to indicate its smaller size when compared to the existing, larger DAT car. Later, in 1933 after Nissan Motor Co., Ltd...
cars. He won the inaugural African Rally Championship
African Rally Championship
The African Rally Championship is an international automobile rally championship organized by the FIA. The championship was first held in 1981 and won by Shekhar Mehta...
in 1981, and the Cyprus Rally
Cyprus Rally
The Cyprus Rally is a rallying competition held yearly in Cyprus since 1970. The event is run by the Cyprus Automobile Association and is based in the city of Limassol . It is run on the winding roads of the nearby mountains of Troödos. It was part of the FIA's World Rally Championship from 2000...
in 1976. He was on the podium at the 1981 Rally Codasur, twice at the Acropolis Rally and three times at the Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
Rallye Côte d'Ivoire
The Rallye Côte d'Ivoire is a rally race held annually in Côte d'Ivoire in Africa. In common with other races on the continent, it is known for its arduous conditions and high attrition rate among competitors. It was part of the World Rally Championship for drivers and manufacturers from 1978 to...
. His career came to an end in 1987 after a nearly fatal crash at Rallye des Pharaons
Rallye des Pharaons
The Rallye des Pharaons is an FIM-sanctioned rally raid event that takes place in Egypt, with Cairo being both the start and finishing point at the foot of the pyramids of Giza, and covers roughly around 3,100 km. It is similar in format to the Dakar Rally in that it takes place in desert...
, Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
while driving for Peugeot
Peugeot
Peugeot is a major French car brand, part of PSA Peugeot Citroën, the second largest carmaker based in Europe.The family business that precedes the current Peugeot company was founded in 1810, and manufactured coffee mills and bicycles. On 20 November 1858, Emile Peugeot applied for the lion...
.
After his driving days were over he held various administrative positions at the FIA
Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile
The Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile is a non-profit association established as the Association Internationale des Automobile Clubs Reconnus on 20 June 1904 to represent the interests of motoring organisations and motor car users...
. He became president of the FIA Rally commission in 1997, and was re-appointed as interim President of the World Rally Championship
World Rally Championship
The World Rally Championship is a rallying series organised by the FIA, culminating with a champion driver and manufacturer. The driver's world championship and manufacturer's world championship are separate championships, but based on the same point system. The series currently consists of 13...
commission shortly before his death. He died in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
on April 12, 2006 from liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
problems, hepatitis
Hepatitis
Hepatitis is a medical condition defined by the inflammation of the liver and characterized by the presence of inflammatory cells in the tissue of the organ. The name is from the Greek hepar , the root being hepat- , meaning liver, and suffix -itis, meaning "inflammation"...
, and illness relating to complications from an old injury.
External links
- Driver profile, Rallybase.nl
- "Datsun and The East African Safari Rally", Datsunhistory.com