Motorsport fraternity mourns veteran rally driver Vic Preston
Local motorsport fraternity is mourning the death of veteran rally driver Vic Preston, one of the most celebrated sportsmen in Kenya for the last 50 years.
Junior, as he was fondly known, died in Seychelles on Tuesday aged 72 years after a long illness.
While announcing the sad news, Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) President Phineas Kimathi described him as one of the pillars of rallying in Kenya and extended his condolences on behalf of the KMSF, World Rally Championship (WRC) Kenya, and the whole rally fraternity.
Vic Preston Junior was born on November 20, 1950 in a rallying family. His father, Preston Senior was a legendary driver of the 60s who won Safari Rally in 1967.
“Preston was a celebrated rally driver, locally and internationally in a career that spanned for 24 years between 1966 to 1990. We shall truly miss his prowess behind the wheel which made him an icon to reckon with especially to the young rally drivers,” Kimathi said.
Preston began his rally career aged 16, then too young to acquire a driving licence.
He entered his first East African Safari Rally in 1971, aged 21 navigated by the late Bill Parkinson, finishing 6th overall in a Ford Escort Twin Cam. Impressed by his outstanding performance the UK-based Ford company hired him to compete in Safari the following year alongside the late Hannu Mikola of Finland.
Preston finished third overall enabling him to start a career with top European car manufacturers including Porsche, Lancia, Mercedes, Audi and Japanese Nissan in 1990 during his last Safari before he retired from rallying after failing to finish.
“He was the most sought-after driver in Africa, always leading in the Safari even when he was not even amongst the top 10 at the starting line, “Kimathi noted.
He made history in 1989 while being navigated by John Lyall when they were forced to wait patiently by the roadside in the bushes for hours after a pride of lions surrounded their car, Nissan 200SX.
His best performance was in 1978, finishing second in a factory entered Porsche 911 SC. Later in 1985’s national championships he scored a rare 12 out of 12 victories in the series.
