A special moment of rallying nostalgia unfolded a few weeks ago when 1973 Safari Rally-winning navigator Lofty Drews was reunited with the Datsun he rallied for so many years.
It was a powerful image – a true legend of Kenyan rallying reunited with a car that carries so much history. These are the drivers, cars and stories that helped shape Kenya’s incredible rallying heritage.
Born in Tanga, Tanzania, Drews etched his name into World Rally Championship history when he navigated the late Shekhar Mehta to victory in the 1973 Safari Rally – the first WRC win of his career.
That triumph was just the beginning. He went on to achieve further success alongside greats such as Sandro Munari and Rauno Aaltonen, and finished on the Safari podium seven more times, underlining his status as one of the most consistent and respected navigators in the event’s history.
Drews continued to appear regularly at the Safari Rally until 1990 and later graced the East African Safari Classic Rally with the late Tanzanian driver, Jayant Shah.
In the 1990s, Lofty moved from Kenya to Australia. After relocating, he competed in the Australian Rally Championship before eventually settling down on a farm in Queensland.
The reunion is more than just a photo opportunity. It is a celebration of great memories, great machines, and another amazing legend from the golden days of rallying – an era that made the Safari the toughest rally in the world.
