The 91-year-old has braved the scorching African sun and rough off-road terrain to become the oldest competitor in the history of the World Rally Championship (WRC).
France's Sébastien Ogier, with co-driver Julien Ingrassia, won the Safari Rally on Sunday afternoon after longtime leader Thierry Neuville of Belgium damaged the suspension of his car and was forced to retire from the competition in its closing stages, the motorsport24.pl website reported.
Japan's Takamoto Katsuta finished runner-up in the punishing four-day African classic, 21.8 seconds behind Ogier.
Poland's Zasada and co-driver Tomasz Borysławski were expected to cross the finishing line some time later, according to motorsport24.pl. They were third in the RC3 class and 25th overall before the final stage of the rally.
Zasada is a three-time European rally champion and one of Poland’s most acclaimed drivers, with a career spanning nearly seven decades.
He took part in his first auto rally in 1952.
Sobiesław Zasada. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
Zasada told reporters ahead of the Kenya rally that his main aim would be to "reach the end" of the four-day event, where he competed against rivals almost 70 years his junior.
His 37-year-old grandson, Daniel Chwist, also took part in the grueling challenge in Kenya. He finished fourth in the WRC-3 category and 17th overall, motorsport24.pl reported.
(gs)
Source: motorsport24.pl, wrc.com
