After an exhilarating shakedown in Loldia, race cars make their way back to Nairobi for the Ceremonial Start and the highly anticipated Kasarani Super Special Stage on Thursday, marking the first speed test of the thrilling 19-stage WRC Safari Rally.
For Nairobi fans unable to travel to Naivasha for the weekend’s 1192.47km event, the Kasarani Super Special Stage will serve as the designated viewing area.
Spectators can expect hair-raising thrills as they witness four-time world champion Juha Kankkunen take on the 4.8km twin track at Kasarani.
Kankkunen, a former Safari driver, boasts an impressive WRC factory team career from 1983 to 2002. The Flying Finn secured an astounding 23 world rally wins and four drivers’ world championship titles, records at the time.
Although Sébastien Loeb and Sébastien Ogier have since surpassed these records, Kankkunen’s achievement of becoming a world champion with three different manufacturers remained unmatched until Ogier accomplished the feat in 2020.
While fans eagerly await the rally machines’ return from Uhuru Park, where the ceremonial flag-off will take place at 12:46 pm, Kankkunen will entertain with captivating demonstrations on the track, showcasing his skills with a Toyota pickup.
Deputy Clerk of the Course, George Mwangi, provided further insight into the day’s schedule, stating, “Teams will have their crews recce with the rally cars from 8:30 am onwards on the opening stage at Kasarani, traditionally done on personal cars. Then, they will head to Uhuru Park at 12:46 pm for the ceremonial start, offering fans another opportunity to witness the elegant Priority 1 marque competing in the seventh leg of the global series.”
The Super Special Stage at Kasarani will be broadcast live on WRC TV from 2:05 pm. Drivers have already recce’d the Naivasha side of the route itinerary on Monday and Tuesday, preparing for the thrilling challenges ahead.
The competition will feature top contenders such as Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier, winners of the previous two editions, both driving Toyota GR Yaris cars alongside Elfyn Evans and Japanese star Takamoto Katsuta, a two-time podium finisher in Kenya.
As part of promotional activities, Rovanperä engaged in a spirited showdown with Africa’s fastest man, Ferdinand Omanyala, who holds an impressive personal-best time of 9.77 in the 100m, an African record. The thrilling spectacle showcased the power and agility of the Toyota GR Yaris.
Hyundai Motorsport enters a trio of i20 Ns for Esapekka Lappi, Thierry Neuville, and Dani Sordo, while Ott Tänak, Pierre-Louis Loubet, and privateer Jourdan Serderidis will pilot M-Sport Ford Pumas.
In the premier support category, Kajetan Kajetanowicz leads the WRC2 entry in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, accompanied by competitors such as Grégoire Munster in a Ford Fiesta Rally2 and KCB-sponsored Karan Patel driving a Ford Fiesta R5.
Friday’s program includes the thrilling Loldia, Geothermal, and Kedong stages, promising a captivating start to the WRC Safari Rally.
Get ready for adrenaline-pumping action as the world’s best rally drivers conquer the challenging Kenyan terrain and battle for victory in this prestigious event.
