The eyes of the sporting world, and not just motoring enthusiasts, will be on Kenya for the next four days, for the African leg of the World Rally Championship, which starts today in and around Naivasha.
For the World Safari Rally 2024, which always attracts the best drivers in the touring competition, being a unique and electrifying challenge in the middle of nature, there has been an incredible turnout: as many as 29 crews have registered. Several foreign drivers have already arrived in Kenya days ago, eager to tackle the challenging terrain and compete for glory in one of the most famous events on the international motorsport scene. Also smiling is the Naivasha and Nakuru tourist industry, which has long since sold out, for all the entourage, the media and the hundreds of fans from all over the world who, besides enjoying the passage of the racing cars, will visit the parks, volcanic lakes and attractions of the Rift Valley. The coincidence with the Easter holidays has increased numbers and anticipation.


The Kenyan Safari Rally, which was inaugurated in 1973, is renowned for its challenging terrain and difficult conditions. The wild terrain offers drivers the ultimate test of endurance, including mud, rocks, sand and challenging water crossings. What was already one of the toughest events on the calendar has been made even more challenging by the return of the Safari to its traditional spring location. This places it right at the start of Kenya's heaviest rainy season and could be the key factor in the pace and spectacle of this weekend's stages.
WRC said in a statement that this year's edition promises to deliver on its promises, offering drivers and spectators an unparalleled experience full of thrills and excitement.
As for the competition and the drivers, as always it will be the teams from the Asian and European car manufacturers that will do battle, with Japan's Toyota offering the Finnish champion Kalle Rovanpera, South Korea's Hyundai with current leader Thierry Neuville and the 2019 world champion, Otto Tanak, the winner of last year's Kenyan edition, Kajetan Kajetanowitz, will be back with his Skoda Fabia. There is also a strong local presence, especially in the 'B' category led by experienced Italian-born driver Carl Tundo in his Ford Fiesta R5 and with the debut among the 'big boys' of Tanzanian Yasin Nasser, at the wheel of a Fiesta Rally2.


This year's Safari Rally Kenya will cover 368km in total and will be the longest edition since it returned to the WRC calendar in 2021.
The first of the rally's 19 stages will take place this afternoon, with the super special stage in the capital Nairobi, at Kasarani.
Tomorrow sees the start of the first full day of the event and will take crews on the bumpy roads around Lake Naivasha. The morning loop consists of three stages totalling 64 kilometres, repeated in the afternoon after a lunchtime service.
Saturday is the longest day of the rally, with six stages, including the challenging 36-kilometre 'Sleeping Warrior' stage. After a total of 161 km, the first points of the weekend will be provisionally awarded.
The final and decisive day on Sunday, runs through six stages totalling 74 km around Lake Elmenteita, before concluding with the second leg of the spectacular test in Hell's Gate Park, which will decide this year's final podium.

(photo: FB Jackkk)