Classmates To Rally Stars: The Story Of SportPesa Racing Duo Varese, Kareithi

NAIROBI, Kenya- At the height of the Safari Rally fame in the 90s, two classmates studying at Nairobi’s Brookhouse School had the privilege of getting closer to the action more than most of their peers.

Fate brought Leonardo ‘Leo’ Varese and Kigondu ‘KV’ Kareithi together at the independent British curriculum co-educational day and boarding school offering early years, preparatory and secondary schooling. 

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Located in Langata, a suburb of Nairobi about 10km from the Kenyan capital’s Central Business District, Brookhouse acted as the breeding ground where Varese and Kareithi discovered their love for rallying.

With the Safari all the rave in the 90s, the compound at Brookhouse served as the last checkpoint of the iconic World Rally Championship Safari before the event relocated to the now Kenya International Convention Centre (KICC).

That provided the pupils at the institution access to the world-class drivers and local heroes who made Safari acquire its legendary status as a signature-sporting event and cemented the duos love for motor racing.

SportPesa Return

"As schoolmates we already had the bug and did interact with top WRC drivers which was the penultimate checkpoint of the Safari back then. 

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“I remember posing for pictures with top drivers like Mikki Biasson and WRC Lancia Team which was quite a rare experience. So ingrained was our love for Safari cars," five-time national Formula 2 champion Leo remarked as he prepares for his second outing in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).

His campaign in 2019 was given a shot in the arm by the return of technology and entertainment business, SportPesa as their title partner and together with his former classmate turned trusted navigator KV, Leo is plotting an assault on a record sixth Formula 2 crown.

Five-time Formula 2 champion, Leonardo Varese (left) and navigator Kigondu Kareithi on the wheel of their rally car. PHOTO/Courtesy

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After achieving the unprecedented Division 2 and 2WD double in 2017, the SportPesa Racing driver hopes to make his presence felt in 2019.

"No Two Wheel driver has ever achieved this rare double. Dennis Mwenda and Asad Khan aka Kalulu achieved the Division Two in a homologated Group N Subaru and Mitsubishi and I don't see any other driver from 2WD achieving this double anytime soon," added Leo who together with KV won five out of six rallies in 2017.

Born on July 31, 1971 Leo started his racing career in the 2006 Guru Nanak Rally where he finished fifth in 2WD Class.

From 2006 to date, Leo and KV have won six championships, which include five Two Wheel Drive Championships and a Division 2 title. His 2WD championships were achieved in 2008 and 2010 in an ex-Alfir Khan championship winning VW Golf.

The SportPesa Racing duo also scooped the 2014, 2015 and record-breaking 2017 season where he won both the KNRC Division Two and Two Wheel in an ex-Conrad Rautenbach/David Horsey Toyota Corolla RSI.

Leo finished third overall in the 2009 2WD championship behind then champion Jasmeet Chana. 

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In 2010 Leo registered his second career championship after beating Munir Khan and Adnan Suhail to the coveted trophy.

Generous Horseys

But due to lack of corporate backing in 2011, Leo only managed only two rounds in what turned out to be a low season for him.

In 2012, Leo won only one Rally to finish third overall in the championship.

"That was another slow year for us. We only managed one win on the RSC round and a couple of retirements," the SportPesa Racing driver recalled.

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In 2013, Leo acquired the Corolla from the Horseys and did only three rallies. 

"The Horsey family were quite generous with spares but 2013 was basically a test drive to get the hang of the car."

He and KV finished third overall in 2016 on his first decade of racing and won a double in 2017. 

“We beat Subaru N series drivers like Eric Bengi and Tash Tundo to the Division Two title which was no mean achievement by Two Wheel standards," remarked Leo.

Leo and KV finished their Year 13 (the equivalent of Form 6 in the old system) at Brookhouse and embarked on their long cherished dream to acquire a rally car.

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"Our dream was fulfilled in 2006 when we acquired a Golf which Khan won the 2004 championship with. We won two championships with this car. 

“The essence was to make some cash, save and be able to afford a rally car and this came to fruition our first 15 years after leaving school. 

“Our second rally car was the ex-Charan Thethy Golf towards the end of 2011. We were not so lucky on this car and only registered one class win on the RSC Rally edition in 2012,” the driver narrated. 

“Our third car was the Toyota Corolla from the Horsey family in 2013. We are soon upgrading to our fourth rally car that is the Toyota Auris we have been developing for quite some time. 

“The aspect of wear and tear on VW Golfs made it increasingly difficult to compete at the highest level hence the decision to upgrade to a Toyota Corolla and now the Auris," Leo explained.

The SportPesa Racing duo will be back in action on the weekend of May 17 in the third event of the 2019 KNRC season hoping to finish their first event after retiring during the second round of Kajiado Rally where a broken suspension arm on the first service out compelled them to bow out.