Tuta Mionki (born 21 April 1976)[1] is a Kenyan rally driver, co-driver and navigator who was crowned the Kenya Motor Sports Personality of the year 2018. She also holds the Kenya Motor Sports Federation Awards for the best co-driver of the season 2015 (Division 3) and 2016 (2-wheel-drive). Mionki was the first woman rally driver to join the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) Premier Class Motor Rallying.[2]
Background and education edit
Mionki was born to Jane Nyaruiru (Wambui) Mionki.[3] She grew up in Thika and attended Gatumaini primary school and Maryhill Girls High School.[4] Mionki later studied at the Catholic University of Eastern Africa and completed her Masters at the University of Nairobi where she majored in human resource management.[4]
Mionki also attended the Abdul Sidi Rally Academy (ASRA).[5][6]
Career edit
Mionki as a human resources professional, had previously worked for corporations such as Kenya Airways, British American Tobacco, Java House and ZTE.[4] She then left her job in 2009 to start her own business.[4]
In 2012, she joined racing as a navigator for rally driver Eric Bengi in the Rally Raid.[7] She has since been a co-driver for Victor Okundi, Steve Gacheru, Helen Shiri, Murage Waigwa and Nzioka Waita.[8][9] She has participated in the 2021 Safari Rally as a co-driver for Nzioka Waita.[10][11]
Awards edit
In 2016, she won the award for Best Co-Driver (in the 2 wheel drive category).[12] In 2018, Mionki was crowned the Kenya Motorsports Personality of the Year, making her the second woman to be given the award after Anne Teith.[13]
See also edit
- Kenya National Rally Championship circuit
- Nzioka Waita
- Orie Rogo Manduli
References edit
- ^ "Tuta Mionki". Rally Archives. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ Oluoch, Derrick. "Need for speed: Tough women behind the wheel". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ obituary (2020-12-24). "Jane Nyaruiru Mionki". Obituary Kenya. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ a b c d "Human resource management graduate Mionki finally breaks jinx". www.scoopernews.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ "Rally navigators speak on their race day experience". Citizen Digital. 2021-06-26. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ Isaboke, Alex (2021-04-14). "Abdul Sidi paints a picture of navigation as WRC Safari Rally nears". Capital Sports. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ "The race of a lifetime". Nation. 2020-07-05. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ Shacki. "Tuta Mionki - rally profile eWRC-results.com". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ Magak, Chrisphine. "Mionki Tuta loves 'em fast and furious". The Standard. Retrieved 2022-03-18.
- ^ "Tuta Mionki just can't wait for the WRC Safari Rally | MozzartSportKe". www.mozzartsportke.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ Shacki. "Tuta Mionki - rally profile eWRC-results.com". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ "The female rally champion driving change". BBC News. Retrieved 2022-03-17.
- ^ capitalfmkenya (2019-01-20). "Mionki wins 2018 Motor Sports Personality". Capital Sports. Retrieved 2022-03-17.