Motorpolitics

International motorsport has its own brand of internal politics and business which can be pretty grubby at times, but it is nonetheless shameful and sad that the even grubbier affairs of governmental politicians should be allowed to interfere with sporting matters.

Politicians consider it legitimate, in order to further their ends, to make use of whatever ammunition comes their way, and it is criminal that they can fire this off towards all manner of undeserving targets and yet remain immune from penalty.

At the end of June Bill Parkinson resigned from the board, which he chaired so ably, of Safari Rally Limited, the body with AA connections similar to those which the RACMSA has with the RAC.

We have no doubts that he was not ready to resign, but felt obliged to do so when political innuendo was directed towards him during a judicial enquiry convened to probe matters which had nothing whatsoever to do with Mr Parkinson, nothing to do with sport and nothing to do with the Safari Rally.

Bill Parkinson has been involved with competing and organising throughout his 30-plus years in Kenya, and for the last two years has devoted all his time and efforts to heading the organisation which not only runs one of the finest sporting events in the world but brings immense publicity and prestige to the country. It is damnable that he should be made to consider it necessary to give up that appointment, and there can be no clearer example of a system cutting off its nose to spite its face.

Appointed to take over the chairmanship of Safari Rally Limited is Nicholas Nganga, a former governmental permanent secretary and businessman who was also a director of the rally’s organising body. We wish him every success in maintaining the standard and reputation of a superb international motor sporting competition.