Kenyan driver Tejas Hirani has announced today that he will compete in the 2016 RX Lites Series, the feeder series to the FIA World Rallycross Championship.
The 17 year old made the announcement today in Nairobi, confirming his full season participation in the series after taking part in events held at Barcelona, Turkey and Italy during the 2015 season. This news also confirms that he will be the first African driver to compete full time in the RX Lites series.
Hirani explained his aims for the 2016 season: “I am humbled and excited at the prospect of taking part in the upcoming championship as the first and only African,” Hirani explained. “This is a dream come true for me and I would like to thank all my sponsors, OlsbergsMSE, my trainers and everyone who believed in me throughout my journey. My goal is to win.”
The Kenyan driver will pilot one of the identical OlsbergMSE built RX Lites cars and Team Principal Andreas Eriksson is excited to see how Hirani progresses during the season: “Tejas has shown great skill and talent in the events he has raced in so far in his young career. With OMSE´s professional help to further develop him as a race driver and grow him as a person, he has the chance to become a future rallycross star.”
Hirani will gain early experience of the car as he will take part in the RallyX on Ice series which begins in Sweden at the end of the month. Hirani’s Manager and Trainer Rob Collinge explained the thinking behind this move: “Tejas will be staying with the OlsbergsMSE team in Sweden for two months to prepare him for the RX Lites. The RX on Ice series which he starts in January is designed to hone his skills and control on ice under the guidance of professional tutors in the OlsbergsMSE team.”
The 2016 RX Lites Series kicks off at Montalegre, Portugal on 15-17 April.
