World Rally Championship (WRC Safari Rally) 2023 featured a mother and daughter crew of Caroline Gatimu and Tinashe Gatimu for the first time ever in the history of motor sport.
The 2024 WRC has also featured the duo entry in a sport often dominated by men.
Caroline began rallying alongside her husband Gatimu Mindo in 2008, participating in the four-by-four events held in Athi River at the time.
The couple transitioned to rally raid, formerly known as cross country, which featured faster-paced events than the four-by-four races.
They began competing in cross country events where they were tasked with following a road map and covering specific distances within designated timeframes.
Caroline persisted in this pursuit for several years alongside her husband as the navigator.
However, around 2012, they found the pace too sluggish and transitioned to rallying with faster cars.
Initially, Caroline began driving a Volkswagen (VW) Golf before transitioning to a Toyota Levin.
Upon switching to faster cars, her husband assumed the role of her manager, and together they formed an all-lady rally crew known as “Divas on Wheels.”
Caroline recalls how they evolved over time, taking a brief hiatus before returning with renewed vigor.
They resumed racing together, marking the beginning of their continued growth and dedication to the sport.
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Tinashe Gatimu Journey into Motor Sport
As Tinashe puts it, their primary aim in the Safari Rally is “to get to the finish line and bring the car home the way we left with it.”
“Getting to tell my mother what to do is quite fun,” she said, highlighting their unique dynamic on the track.
Tinashe a 19-year-old said she started her journey in motor sport when she was younger as she used to participate in GP cut events at carnival. These events essentially involved driving automatic cars, requiring only gas, brake, and steering control.
Subsequently, she mastered driving and proceeded to operate manual vehicles over the following years, with her father serving as her instructor teaching her the skills needed for manual driving.
In 2022 she started participating in Motorsports events like autocross where she drove a manual car.
Tinashe said she got the courage of rallying from her father and mother seeing how they carried themselves while growing up.
“Basically, they taught us you can do anything if you set your mind to it and from there, I just built up the courage to start driving and I think it was also just inside me because coming from two speed junkies it’s believable that it would just be there,” she said in a past interview.
Tinashe’s racing journey began with a Magi Bag, then progressed to a 2WD Toyota Levin, which had been her mother’s car.
Currently, she drives a Subaru GF8, but for the 2024 WRC rally, she’s piloting a Subaru N 10.
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How They got into 2023 WRC Safari Rally
In 2023, they participated in the Lioness rally, a modest event organized by a group of women passionate about racing. It was here that the duo began their journey together.
Caroline assumed the role of driver while Tinashe navigated. Along the way, they engaged in autocross events, competing against each other in the same car, each taking turns behind the wheel.
When the WRC Safari Rally returned, the government assembled the Talanta Hela Ladies Rally Team, comprising four teams, which provided them entry into the WRC.
Caroline explained that initially, she drove while Tinashe navigated, as her daughter had come of age and grasped the intricacies of racing.
However, they later decided to switch roles to encourage the younger generation, with Tinashe taking the driver’s seat and Caroline assuming navigation duties in the 2023 WRC debut where the duo finished in 10th place.
Tinashe is currently in her A-level studies, in Year 13. On weekdays, she attends school, and on weekends, she joins her mother for practice sessions.
“On the weekend my mind is solely on the rally and then during the week my mind is solely on school so that’s how I managed to balance it and I also know that behind the scenes mom and dad are doing their best to sort out their side and I don’t of course have to think about it too much,” she said.
How the Duo Prepare for Rallying
Every day, Tinashe engages in evening practice sessions, whereas her mother prefers to practice in the morning.
However, regardless of the timing, staying focused and maintaining fitness is crucial, especially since endurance events can become intense with high temperatures, prolonged durations, and demanding concentration.
In terms of car preparation, a dedicated team ensures that their cars are maintained and meet the required standards to withstand the rigors of racing without any breakdowns.
“We go out there in the field and just practice all the way from the little kids who take part in autocross in the buggies all the way to the older ones because what we need to do is to make ourselves better,” Caroline stated.
On a normal day Caroline and her husband run a garage called shift Auto Services which is in Westlands and they also they run a motor vehicle recovery company.
