The 5th edition of the WRC Safari Rally since its reinstatement in the global championship calendar will be held in Naivasha from 20th to 23rd next month.
The Kenyan rally will both serve as the African rally championship leg as well as the Kenya National rally championship for local drivers.
The Safari Rally was reinstated to the WRC calendar in 2021 after a 19-year hiatus.
In order to make this year’s championship more competitive and fun the organisers have introduced some changes .
Among the expected changes are an increased number of autograph points and the introduction of a Rally Village at Naivasha’s Leleshwa Area in Morendat Farm to accommodate tens of thousands expected to attend.
In previous editions, the majority of the spectator points were not well communicated to spectators, resulting in confusion.
The increased number of autograph points for spectators will ensure fans get closer with the drivers during competition.
Spectators will also be allowed to get closer to the prize-giving area in Hell’s Gate, unlike in the previous editions, but measures will be put in place to protect the heritage.
Another profound change will be the official flag-off of the WRC Safari Rally on March 20, which will revert to its former ceremonial start area outside Nairobi’s City Hall, with President William Ruto expected to send off the cars.
In total there will be 10 spectator viewing points starting from lining up outside the City Hall, Kasarani Super Special Stage, two areas within the Shakedown Area at Sleeping Warrior’s Special Export Zone, Kedong Start and Finish, KenGen Geothermal, and Camp Moran, which will have three spectator zones.
Other spectator zones include two spectator zones at Soysambu and another at Elementaita, Leleshwa, and Hell’s Gate.
The Kasarani Super Special stage, which is the only stage where rally cars compete head to head, will run in reverse order as opposed to the previous 4 editions.
Finish,Kalle Rovanperä, navigated by Halttunen Jonne from Toyota, won last year’s edition held during the Easter weekend.
