10 Facts About Shekhar Mehta

Shekhar Mehta was a Ugandan-born Kenyan rally driver.

Shekhar Mehta won the Safari Rally a record five times, including four consecutively, and in 1981 finished fifth in the World Rally Championship.

Shekhar Mehta was born into a wealthy business family, the son of Khimji Mehta and the grandson of Nanji Kalidas Mehta, founder of the Mehta Group.

Shekhar Mehta was the cousin of Indian businessman, Jay Mehta who is the head of the Mehta Group.

Shekhar Mehta married his sometime co-driver Yvonne Pratt in 1978 after a ten-year courtship, and they had one son, Vijay, in 1980.

Shekhar Mehta won the inaugural African Rally Championship in 1981, and the Cyprus Rally in 1976.

Shekhar Mehta was on the podium at the 1981 Rally Codasur, twice at the Acropolis Rally and three times at the Rallye Cote d'Ivoire.

Shekhar Mehta's career came to an end in 1986 after a nearly fatal crash at Rallye des Pharaons, Egypt while driving for Peugeot.

Shekhar Mehta 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.

Shekhar Mehta died in London on 12 April 2006 from liver problems, hepatitis, and illness relating to complications from an old injury.