NAIROBI, March 25 (Xinhua) -- The highly-anticipated World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in Kenya is only hours away, with the stage set for what is predicted to be a wet showdown in the East African savannah.
This year's Safari Rally has been moved up to the Easter slot from June and is now the third round of the 2024 FIA WRC following the opening two races in Monaco and Sweden. The Safari has been held in June since its return to the global championship in 2021 following a 19-year absence, and following heavy rains that started to hit the country over the weekend, drivers are expecting a mud bath.
The event will be flagged off in Kenya's capital Nairobi on Thursday before the drivers compete in a Super Special Stage within the city. The crews will then move to Naivasha, 80km northwest of the Kenyan capital for the three-day rally proper that concludes on Sunday.
With a lineup of 29 entries comprising top contenders from across the world, anticipation for the rally has reached fever pitch. Several drivers have already arrived in Kenya, eager to tackle the challenging terrain and compete for glory in one of motorsport's most revered events.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville is seeking his first Safari victory, having been forced to retire from the 2021 and 2023 editions. "We had a good kick-off of the season as we are still leading the championship. Coming here to Kenya now, much earlier in the season, we are really looking forward to the race," the Hyundai driver told reporters at Masai Mara Game Research on Sunday.
"We know it's a windy season as well, so it's going to be probably a different challenge than what we have seen in the previous years. But it's always exciting to be here and it's some kind of adventure and much different than all the other rallies," he added.
Neuville leads the standings on 48 points, three ahead of Welshman and Toyota Gazoo Racing rival Elfyn Evans.
Frenchman Adrien Fourmax of M-Sport Ford is further adrift in third with 29. "First I need to get used to the temperature here. It's very hot, obviously, compared to what we have in France. I need to get used to it. And the landscape is completely different. So, yeah, quite a shock now, but a very nice experience. Obviously, it's quite different from what we have in Europe but it's always interesting to discover something new," he said.
Over the weekend, Neuville, Evans, Nicolas Ciamin of France and Luxembourg's Gregoire Munster were among the drivers who were treated to a two-day safari at the famous Masai Mara Game Reserve.
The trip was part of Kenya's effort to tap into the six billion U.S. dollars motorsport industry by encouraging sports enthusiasts to either extend their stay after events such as the Safari Rally or arrive earlier to explore more of the country.
The heavy rain currently pounding Kenya brings an additional challenge to an already grueling rally.
Few drivers will have come across the deep water and slippery mud that can replace dusty roads in a matter of minutes.
The Safari Rally was first held in 1953, as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Renamed the Kenya Safari Rally in 1974, the event is held on roads still open to the public and has gained notoriety as the toughest round of the WRC, where arduous conditions, constantly changing weather and more than 5,000 competitive kilometers makes simply finishing an achievement. ■
