Mike Kirkland (born August 1, 1947) is a Kenyan former rally driver from Nairobi, known for his appearances in the World Rally Championship.
Mike Kirkland is a former Kenyan rally driver and businessman, known for winning the Kenya Rally Championship three years in a row (1979, 1980, 1981) and competing in 19 Safari Rallies. He started his career on motorcycles, winning the national championship in 1969 before switching to cars, where he became a successful competitor and a works driver for Nissan. He also received the Kenya Motor Sportsman of the Year award in 1989 and has since built a career in tourism, running a safari company. Early life and career Born in Thika, he was educated in Nyeri and at the Duke of York School (now Lenana School). He began his motorsport career on motorcycles, winning the Kenyan national championship in 1969. Rallying career He switched to rallying and won the Kenya Championship in three consecutive years: 1979, 1980, and 1981. He was a professional works driver for Nissan. Kirkland competed in 19 Safari Rallies and finished 14 of them. In 1989, he was awarded the Kenya Motor Sportsman of the Year. Post-rallying career and business Kirkland became a successful businessman, establishing a safari and tourism company, Southern Cross Safaris. He is also a conservationist, particularly known for his work supporting wildlife in Tsavo. He continues to be involved in motorsports, having participated in events like the Rhino Charge and attending recent Safari Rallies as a driver for photographer Reinhardt Klein.
https://allafrica.com/stories/201104211367.html#:~:text=After%20his%20education%20at%20Nyeri,off%2Droad%20event%2017%20times.
https://nation.africa/kenya/sports/motorsports/mike-kirkland-cow-dung-incident-with-amin-dada-4793020
Racing record
Complete IMC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1970 Mike Kirkland Datsun 1600 SSS MON SWE ITA KEN7 AUT GRE GBR 1972 Mike Kirkland Datsun 1600 SSS MON SWE KENRet MAR GRE AUT ITA USA GBR
Complete WRC results Year Entrant Car 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Pts 1973 Mike Kirkland Datsun 1600 SSS MON SWE POR KEN9 MOR GRE POL FIN AUT ITA USA GBR FRA N/A N/A 1975 Mike Kirkland Datsun 260Z MON SWE KENRet GRE MOR POR FIN ITA FRA GBR N/A N/A 1978 Coast Car Hire Datsun 160J MON SWE KENRet POR GRE FIN CAN ITA CIV FRA GBR N/A N/A 1979 D.T. Dobie / Team Datsun Datsun 160J MON SWE POR KEN7 GRE NZL FIN CAN ITA FRA GBR CIV 44th 4 1980 D.T. Dobie / Team Datsun Datsun 160J MON SWE POR KEN4 GRC ARG FIN NZL ITA FRA GBR 26th 10 Comafrique CIVRet 1981 D.T. Dobie / Team Datsun Datsun 160J MON SWE POR KEN3 FRA GRC ARG BRA FIN ITA CIV GBR 20th 12 1982 D.T. Dobie & Co Nissan Violet GTS MON SWE POR KEN3 FRA GRC NZL BRA FIN< ITA CIV GBR 15th 12 1983 D.T. Dobie & Co Nissan 240RS MON SWE POR KENRet FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1984 D.T. Dobie & Co Nissan 240RS MON SWE POR KENRet FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1985 D.T. Dobie & Co Nissan 240RS MON SWE POR KEN3 FRA 9th 26 N.J. Theocarakis SA GRC7 Nissan Motor Co. Ltd. CIV4 GBR Subaru Motor Sport Subaru RX Turbo NZL12 ARG FIN ITA 1986 Fuji Heavy Industries Subaru RX Turbo MON SWE POR KEN6 FRA GRE NZLRet ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR USA 36th 6 1987 Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX MON SWE POR KEN8 FRA GRE10 USA NZL ARG FIN CIVRet ITA GBR 52nd 4 1988 Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX MON SWE POR KEN2 FRA GRC USA NZL ARG FIN CIV ITA GBR 18th 15 1989 Nissan Motorsports International Nissan 200SX SWE MON POR KEN2 FRA GRC NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR 20th 15 1990 Subaru Technica International Subaru Legacy RS MON POR KENRet FRA GRC NZLRet ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV GBR NC 0 1991 Nissan Motorsports Europe Nissan Sunny GTI-R MON SWE POR KEN7 FRA GRE NZL ARG FIN AUS ITA CIV ESP GBR 41st 4
External links Driver profile, ewrc-results.com