Why Kenyan rally driver was fined 71,000 by the FIA

Kenyan driver Andrew Muiruri kicked off his 2024 Safari Rally Edition on a bad foot after being fined Ksh71,000.

FIA fined Muiruri after he was found in possession of spare parts which were not approved for the race. He was directed to pay a fine of Ksh71,000 (€500) by the motorsport body at the ongoing WRC Safari Rally.

In a report filed by FIA Deputy Technical Delegate, Muiruri and co-driver Edward Njoroge driving car number 38, were found to carry two tyres as spares, which were produced by Dunlop, which is not the FIA-nominated tyre company. They were supposed to carry Pirelli tyres (FIA exclusive tyre partner).

Play here and stand a chance of winning the over 357 million SportPesa Mega Jackpot

Following the violation of the competition rules, Muiruri was asked to remit the payment within 48 hours or risk being kicked out of the WRC Safari Rally.

Muiruri had not used the spare tyres at the time the decision was made.

“The team manager Mr. Asad Anwar admitted that it was the team’s fault and that they forgot to check the spare tyres before the start of the rally. Mr. Andrew Muiruri added that these tyres were not used in SS1- Super Special Kasarani and on the road section to TC1A,” the report read in part.

“The stewards consider that it is the driver’s responsibility to ensure throughout the competition that all tyres used are from the FIA-nominated tyre company, which in this case is Pirelli.

ALSO READ: Faith Kipyegon reveals first stop in 2024 Diamond League campaign

Although the spares in question were not actually used either in the road section or in the special stage, there is still a breach of the regulations. For this reason, the Stewards find the above fine to be appropriate in this case.”

Muiruri was among the group of Kenyan drivers touted to produce exemplary results during the rally 2024 edition. The drivers had received support from different stakeholders to make them shine.

In 2022, he was among a group of Kenyan drivers who edged closer to joining the prestigious FIA World Rallycross Championship series.

Muiruri led his side to a fourth-place finish in Machakos on 120 points where he battled seasoned champions like four-time Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) winner Baldev Chager and Carl 'Flash' Tundo who has bagged the national series five times.

ALSO READ: AFC Leopards Rwandese striker casts doubt on his future at the club

“Rallycross is the best type of motorsports racing that I have ever done. It was exciting, it was thrilling, and we shared a lot of knowledge among each other.

“I feel proud to have lined up against competent drivers like Flash and Boldy. I’m happy I gave them a run for their money. Even though they finished ahead of me, it was just but with a manageable distance,” Muiruri said then.

However, his fate now lies in the balance after violating the spare tyre rule set by FIA. Pirelli was unveiled as official tyre partner for the competition to help the drivers manoeuvre the terrain in the country.

"Meanwhile, Pirelli, the FIA WRC’s official tyre supplier, is providing its Scorpion KX tyre in soft and hard compounds to all Rally1 cars. The soft compound is the first choice for damp conditions with the hard option available for dry-weather running," FIA stated on their website.

ALSO READ: Goal Rush: SportPesa’s new free-to-play game offering 10 million grand prize