The FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) has undergone a number of rule tweaks in the run up to the 2024 season with a new point’s structure being termed a “game changer” by local stakeholders.
Locally, motorsport stakeholders opined that the new format will make the 2024 WRC Safari Rally Kenya (round three of the WRC) a lot more scintillating, especially going into Saturday’s penultimate run which carries majority of the championship points.
Navigator Adnan Din, who guided youngster Hamza Anwar to a full campaign of the Junior WRC predicted a more competitive 2024 Safari.
“I think it’s fantastic. Now WRC crews have to work harder and get through both days to score vital points. It’s also rightfully more beneficial to the team that’s got through all the stages. Personally, I think it’ll make this year’s WRC Safari Rally a sight to behold.”
Former Kenyan Two Wheel Drive Champion Dennis Mwenda aka “Dere Mwenda” observed: “Wow. This is a game-changer that will render the events including our own good Safari more exciting and competitive.”
Mwenda continued: “Leading on Saturday will definitely be the most advantageous thing for the Priority 1 drivers. There will be no slowing down to save tires for the power stage. It will be a battle royale to maximize on points.”
-How the new rule works–
Beginning with the season opening Rallye Monte Carlo, the new sporting regulations dictate that points will be awarded for the general classification on Saturday night.
That’s 18 for the win, 15 for second, etc, down to a single point for sitting 10th ahead of the final day.
But then again, those Saturday points are only cemented when a crew is confirmed in the event’s final classification; meaning crews must finish Sunday to claim Friday-Saturday points!
If you’re quickest through the final day, you’ll bag seven points, with a bonus on offer down to seventh (which merits a single point).
What’s more, the power stage point structure remains unchanged with a win lifting five.
So why was the rule introduced? The prime reason for its introduction is to prevent drivers from cruising through Sunday’s stages preserving tyres for the end-of-rally Power Stage, which remains unchanged with the top five fastest drivers receiving bonus points, five the maximum.
— Neuville’s take–
WRC Hyundai Motorsport star Thierry Neuville also believes the new point’s structure will present an exciting new challenge.
“It is going to add more excitement and a bit of strategy as well,” Neuville told Motorsport.com, adding: “But for sure, the drivers that are going to start with a good road position are going to be securing already a big amount of points on the Saturday night, so for those with a bad starting position you need minimum Saturday and Sunday to catch back some time, and this will not be possible anymore.”
— Easter Safari–
The 2024 WRC Safari Rally will return to its traditional Easter date, having been staged in June in the last three editions.
The change is anticipated to take the Kenyan round a higher notch in terms of atmosphere due to the Easter Holidays which means more spectators will make it to Naivasha to get the lifetime experience of the iconic Safari
