Unable to afford a turbocharged four-wheel drive, Lu Jin perfected his drifting in a small pickup truck. With no qualification to compete officially, he drew tracks at a driving school, and used rented cars to race with friends.

"If you ask me whether I had any other dreams back then, the answer is no," said Lu, whose life still revolves around cars to this day.

A driving instructor, a custom car shop owner, a car review columnist, a drifter on contract, and a motor sports event organizer — Lu carries a wealth of experience in the automotive realm, along with provincial and national accolades in drifting and short-course racing.

But, a spot in the international paddock had long eluded him. His bid for the 2024 Safari Kenya Rally fell through at the last minute due to a delayed parts shipment. This year presented a fresh opportunity thanks to an easing of the entry rules.

From designing parts and liaising with overseas factories, to managing shipping, assembly and certification, Lu handled every detail personally. In 28 days, he converted a stock two-wheel drive Honda Fit into an FIA-compliant rally car, with the help of four local mechanics.

His residence, located over 200 kilometers northwest of Kenya's capital Nairobi, doubled as his garage.

Days of refitting the car, to him, felt like "being a monk in a temple", something he says only those who truly know automobiles would understand.

"Motor racing pushes you to constantly set new goals," said Lu. "I've been through it all — rollovers, crashes — everything. I built this car, bolt-by-bolt, with my own hands. I trust it, and I believe in myself to control it," he smiled.

"I'm not aiming to be the fastest, and I don't want to wreck the car. Just to finish the race — that's the biggest success I crave."

With Lu competing in the local 2WD category, the 2025 race spanned 1,397.91km, including 21 special sections over 383.1km, and traversed terrains of mud, rock, grassland, fesh fesh (sand that has been worn down from its typical granular consistency, into dust like particles that closely resembles talcum powder) and water crossings. Held during Kenya's rainy season, the unpredictable weather added further challenges.

"It was very difficult to judge the grip level, and what's coming next. The rain came so heavy, and it changed the conditions so quickly," Toyota's Welsh driver Elfyn Evans told reporters after winning the main WRC rally.

Punctures, loss of control, spins and technical issues plagued the elites. Among the lower-ranked underdogs, debutant Lu was not spared from such thorny challenges, either. A wiring issue caused a gearbox malfunction, forcing him to lose the second day to repairs.

Fortunately, the rally's rulebook allows previously retired contenders to rejoin the race.

When Lu returned on the third day, the 26.97km "Sleeping Warrior "stage dealt another heavy blow.

Half-meter-deep mud pits, dense water holes and jagged rocks formed a series of damaging obstacles.

Lu and his pit crew labored until 2 am to ensure the car could race again the next day.