President William Ruto pose for a photo with WRC rally Drivers . photo by WRC Safari Rally
President William Samoei Ruto urged the World Motorsport Governing Body, FIA, to reconsider a longer and more adventurous World Rally Championship Safari Rally that will rekindle memories of its old-type flavor.
This year’s Safari Rally went down in history as the longest since the return of the FIA global status in 2021 with a competitive mileage of 367.76kms, a liaison distance of 1021.13km and a total distance of 1389.69km.
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.
President-William-Ruto-with-R1-Drivers-at-KICC-. photo by WRC Safari Rally
In 1960 it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Kenya Safari Rally.
Safari has upheld its longstanding global reputation as the toughest round of the WRC and adopted a special stage format in 1996 and from then until 2002, it featured over 1000km of timed tests.
Speaking during the ceremonial start at The Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), the President remarked: “The Safari Rally runs for four days but we would like to revert to the old tradition when it featured longer distances. I direct our Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba to start engaging the FIA and the Promoter on possibilities of a much longer version of Safari,” President Ruto said.
“I implore Kenyans to come out in large numbers this weekend and celebrate this Easter weekend in style. Let’s all come together in welcoming all our visitors to the Magical Kenya, a beautiful country of humanity, back home,” added President Ruto.
FIA representative Federico Lodi said: “Safari is such a special event in the WRC calendar, it’s so demanding and it’s an honor to have the President of the Republic of Kenya flag-off the cars. The combination of the sporting concept, with wonderful people, a wonderful nation, the variety of wildlife, you can’t get enough of it. It’s so good to work together with all the wonderful people, as well as the strong involvement of the Government.”.
Rally enthusiast cheer rally drivers after flag-off at KICC. Photo by WRC Safari Rally
Sports CS Ababu Namwamba on his part noted “We delivered this year’s Safari in a context of a transition and we are making a big transition in terms of improving the Safari Rally project and we can assure our partners that it will only get better. ”
Route Maps and Itineraries for the WRC Safari can be found on www.wrc.com and www.safarirally.ke as well as on the Spotity Electronic Notice Board (Password SRK24).
FRIDAY ITINERARY: 29th-03-2024
STAGE 2 LOIDIA 1
STAGE 3 GEOTHERMAL 1
STAGE4. KEDONG 1
STAGE 5. LOIDIA 2
STAGE 6. GEOTHERMAL 2
STAGE 7. KEDONG 2
DAY ONE LEADERBOARD
1.BEL Neuville Thierry – Wydaeghe M. (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:19.9
- EST Tänak Ott – Järveoja Martin (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:20.0
- fFIN Rovanperä Kalle – Halttunen J. (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:20.7
- JAP Katsuta Takamoto – Johnston Aaron (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:20.8
- FIN Lappi Esapekka – Ferm Janne (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:21.4
- GB Evans Elfyn – Martin Scott (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:21.6
- FRA Fourmaux Adrien – Coria Alexandre (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:22.1
- GB Greensmith Gus – Andersson Jonas Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:26.5
- BEL Munster Grégoire – Louka Louis (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:28.5
- SWE Solberg Oliver – Edmondson E.(Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:29.3
- POL Kajetanowicz K. – Szczepaniak M. Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:29.6
- FRA Ciamin Nicolas – Roche Yannick (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) 3:33.5
- PAR Domínguez Diego Jr. – Peñate R. (Citroën C3 Rally2) 3:36.1
- GRE Serderidis Jourdan – Miclotte F. (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:37.1
- Chwist Daniel – Heller Kamil (Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:38.0 +18.1
- KEN Tundo Carl – Jessop Tim (Ford Fiesta R5) 3:42.9
- KEN Patel Karan – Khan Tauseef (Škoda Fabia R5) 3:43.4
- Díaz-Aboitiz Miguel – Sanjuan D. (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) 3:43.9
- BEL Munster Charles – Dumont Loïc (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) 3:46.0
- KEN Anwar Hamza – Din Adnan (Ford Fiesta Rally3) 3:49.0
- UGA Nasser Yasin – Katumba Ali Ford Fiesta Rally2) 3:49.1
- Vasilakis George – Krawszik Tom Ford Fiesta Rally2) 3:50.8
- KEN Muiruri Andrew – Njoroge Edward (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) 4:07.2
- GB Sachania Nikhil – Patel Deep (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X ) 4:08.5
- KEN Virani Aakif – Shah Zahir (Škoda Fabia R5) 4:12.2
- Garosci Riccardo – Briani Rudy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) 4:18.1
- Rathod Minesh – Noble Gordon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4) 4:30.1
- KEN Singh Vohra Samman – Khan Alfir (Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo) 11:20.9
