The Coronation Safari, as it was originally known, remains the world’s toughest rally since it was born in 1953 to commemorate the coronation of Great Britain’s Queen Elizabeth.
And, coincidentally, was the same year the FIA launched its first rally series, the FIA European Rally Championship.
In 1973, WRC was born and the East African Safari – as it was known from 1960 – was a natural candidate for the series and with a long and treasured history as one of the toughest rallies in the world, remained on the WRC calendar until 2002.
In 2019 the WRC return to Kenya became a reality with the WRC candidate rally successfully held after the project heavily pushed by FIA chief Jean Todt.
However, the smooth flow of the global event was affected by the covid 19 pandemic thus returning into action in 2021 with Sebastien Ogier emerging the overall winner.
Well-known for the sports enthusiasm especially motorsport, Uganda fans were not left out of this great development for the region and indeed caught the eyes of the Kenya government’s top citizen president Uhuru Kenyatta and the WRC promoter and later Uhuru’s successor William Samoi Ruto.
Indeed, the Uganda fans have kept the candle burning and under their umbrella Rally Hunters in partnership with the Friends Bus company have been regular in Kenya.
The same has been case this year when hundreds of them flocked Naivasha to support the sport and their local drivers.
In partnership with the Kenya Tourism Board, the Rally Hunters organised three buses full of fans that are Kenya supporting the global event.
They were flagged off by the Kenya High Commissioner in Uganda Rtd Major General George Aggrey Owino at the Kenya high Commission offices in Kololo.
The Machines roars:
The machines started roaring in the world’s toughest rally today Wednesday March 27,2024 in the Shakedown held at Melewa Naivasha.
The battle for supremacy was in the rough terrains of the biggest game park in the rift valley of the East African Nation.
The crews used the shakedown to finetune their speed beasts ahead of the much gruelling super Special stage at Moi International stadium in Kasarani that has hosted the event since its inauguration in 2019 with the candidate rally.
The championship leaders, Thierry Neuville and Martin Wydaeghe, led the charge during the shakedown, but Otto Tanaka fans believe that today’s spectator stage will prove the speeds and skills of contenders.
However, Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, can in no way be ruled out of contention for the podium finish.
Swedish, Esapekka Lappi is primed for another eye-catching performance in only his second appearance at the Safari Rally.
Meanwhile, Takamoto Katsuta, hailed as a Kenyan specialist with two podiums in three appearances, targets his maiden victory on the African continent.
Reigning world champions, Kalle Rovenpera and Janne Halttunen, the sole crew to have tasted victory on Kenyan soil targets replicating the same results to defend their title.
Kenyan legend Carl Tundo in a Ford RC 2 will set off the fight for glory first at 12.26pm at the 4.84km Kasarani Superspecial Stage.
END.
Nice coverage