The Safari Rally got a further boost for a return to the FIA World Rally Championship calendar after signing an agreement to become an official candidate to stage a round in future.
Four months ago, the FIA President Jean Todt advocated for a return of the African rally on his visit to the country for a road safety programme. It has now earned the Candiate Rally status for 2019 after an agreement signed on Thursday in Paris.
The Director of WRC Promoter Oliver Ciesla was present along with Todt, Principal Secretary of Kenyan Ministry of Sports Ambassador Kirimi Peter Kaberia and CEO of WRC Safari Rally Project and Chairman of the Kenya Motor Sport Federation Phineas Kimathi for the signing.
“Our Government is very committed to the Safari Rally and we will do everything in our power to make sure this great event is brought back to the WRC,” said Kaberia. “This signing is a major milestone and a day we have looked forward to for a very long time.
“Arriving at this point is a great pleasure. There is still a lot of work to be done and we will collaborate closely with all parties ahead of next year’s candidate rally to show that Kenya is ready and capable to deliver what is expected.”
Currently, the venue hosts the African Rally Championship rounds while it last staged the WRC event in 2002. WRC Promoter Ciesla was happy to have overcome the challenges it faced to bring back the Safari Rally to WRC fold after a long gap.
“This agreement reflects our determination to restore a legendary rally to the championship and reinstate Africa to the top table of world rallying after an absence of more than a decade,” he said.
“It has long been a key part of the calendar development strategy to take the WRC back to Africa and fulfil the dreams of our fans to restore this mythical event. A truly global championship requires a presence in the world’s second largest continent and the Kenyan Government has made a huge commitment to re-establish the Safari to its former glory.
“This is a modern-era Safari. Traditional open-road competitive sections have been replaced by smoother special stages in private estates and conservancies and a comprehensive safety plan is in place to support a rally organised to the current WRC format.
“That doesn’t mean the challenge is diminished. The gravel roads are demanding and we can also look forward to striking images of African wildlife and stunning landscapes,” he explained.
Meanwhile, Todt added: “This is another milestone in Kenya’s journey to reviving the WRC Safari Rally. There is a lot of intense work to realise this dream because the era we live in now, especially in regard to safety, is very different to the open road Safaris of days gone by.
“Having had the pleasure of opening the WRC Safari Rally Project’s headquarters earlier this year, and met the members of the Steering Committee, I wish them all much success for their 2019 Candidate Event and will be looking to them to lead the way in both rally and road safety.”