FIA's WRC boss Mehta dies at 60

The Kenyan passed away today, having fallen ill shortly before last weekend's Tour de Course.

He was only re-appointed to the top position in the WRC last month after former incumbent Jacques Regis announced earlier this year he had decided to step down from his position. Mehta was the previous president before Regis took the role at the end of 2004.

"The FIA extends sincere condolences to the Mehta family on the sad news of the death of Shekhar Mehta," said the FIA in a statement.

"Throughout his life Shekhar made an enormous contribution to motor sport, and rallying in particular, both as a successful competitor and as a highly respectedmember of the FIA.

"Shekhar's experience, commitment, sense of honour and humour will be greatly missed. Our thoughts are with the Mehta family at this difficult time."

Before his role on the WRC commission he was a successful rally driver. He won the Safari Rally a record five times between 1973 and 1980.

Mehta's break came in 1971, when Datsun's first choice driver Joginder Singh switched to Ford and Mehta was offered a works 240Z for the Safari Rally. He finished second in the event.

In 1973, he won the event and competed in a further three WRC events for Datsun, but he switched to Lancia for the following season.

After a comparatively unsuccessful spell with Lancia he moved back to Datsun in 1976 and went on to win four consecutive Safari Rallies. His best result in the World Rally Championship was fifth, in 1981.

Mehta's driving career ended after a switch to Rally Raids with an accident in Egypt in 1987. The Kenyan broke his collarbone and was in a state of coma for several weeks, eventually making full recovery in 1988.

Recently he had developed complications due to his old injury and was admitted several days ago to a hospital in London, where he died earlier this morning in his sleep.