Naftali Ayieko secured a tremendous podium place by finishing third in last season's Minishop-sponsored Minicross Allrounders' Championship, in just his second season of racing.

Naftali, who is from Kenya but now lives in Plumstead, is pretty unique as he is the only black racing driver in this country.

After doing so well in the Minicross series, he recently acquired a Peugeot 106-Rallye Grp-N1, which he intends

to drive in this year's BTRDA/1400 Championship series.

Naftali's interest in rallying goes back to the times when he would spectate on the Safari Rally in Kenya as a youngster.

He eventually came over to study in the United Kingdom in 1997 and soon his motoring interest mushroomed until he fulfiled a childhood dream.

Naftali, 28, had no hesitation in choosing the Minicross series for his initial sortie into motor sports.

He said: "I've had the bug for a long time and it was something I knew I had to pursue, but the cost of being involved in motor-sport is substantial and my dream looked just that.... a dream.

"But then I had some rallying tuition with Silverstone-Drive and afterwards I wanted to put all that instruction into practice by finding a less expensive way of competing, and I did with the Mini racing."

The Minicross Allrounders' Champ-ionship provides racing drivers with competition rounds including rallycross, hill-climbs, grass-track racing and sprints on both gravel and tarmac-based surfaces.

All cars are strictly modified 1300cc front-wheel drive Minis, which means that it is always close, hard racing in all races, with many top British rallying and rallycross drivers having used this tried and tested formula to launch their racing careers.

Naftali astutely took advantage of a hire-drive scheme on offer from

Revival-Motorsports during last season.

He said: "You learn to push your own and the car's limits at all times to do well.

"Getting it wrong can mean a close-up view of the safety tyre walls, which I have had on a few occasions!

"This subsidised hire-drive scheme encourages many less-well-off people, like myself, to do a bit more than just wishful thinking and get out there and race."

He added: "For between £250 and £450, you can compete in a Minicross event with all expenses covered, including car hire, tyres, fuel, on-event support, as well as an Motor Sports' Association's licence, overalls and helmet.

Novices also benefitted from free

tuition and advice from Richard Wakling of Revivals Motorsports, which manages this scheme, and who is a past multiple Minicross champion himself.

"It has been a good thing to have someone with experience pointing out my pluses and minuses at the beginning of my motorsport career, and I owe a lot

of the improvements I have made in the past two years to Richard," said Naftali.

Along with his co-driver Glyn Williams, who is from Downham, Naftali also managed to come an encouraging 10th overall (out of 50 starters and 35 finishers) in the very tough Preston Road Rally staged last month, as practice for this season's competition in his Peugeot 106.

Naftali addeed: "We treated the Preston Rally like a shake-down for the car, which I had never driven before let alone done any kind of rallying in.

"I was very encouraged by the result, especially when you consider that we were the highest-placed 1300cc car, and

at one point in the rally we set the third-fastest overall time on one of the hardest sections on the course.

"Driving in an event for almost nine hours at high speed for the first time, in fog, on narrow English roads and at night, was definitely a character-building experience for me, as well as growing a few more grey hairs!

"I had no idea what to expect like braking on ice, but my co-driver Glyn was a big help as he had experience of it."

Naftali, as he prepares for his first stage rally at Wydean on February 9, is also striving to attract more sponsorship.

He concluded: "Hopefully, if I get good results in rallying, it will speak for my commitment and ability in the sport and some more sponsors will come forward."

If you would like to provide some financial support, call Naftali on 07958 561449 or email: nafrally@yahoo.ie

December 31, 2001 11:30