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The various and spectacular nature of the FIA World Rally Championship shall be highlighted to the complete in Africa subsequent week (March 27-31) with the 72nd Safari Rally Kenya marking the third occasion of an more and more thrilling WRC season.
Simply three factors separate the highest two drivers, Thierry Neuville and Elfyn Evans, within the provisional standings, whereas the lead of the FIA World Rally Championship for Producers is shared by Hyundai and Toyota. M-Sport Ford has taken a podium end in 2024 to underline the sturdy competitors among the many Rally1 contenders within the FIA WRC.
Since its eagerly anticipated return to the FIA WRC calendar in 2021, Safari Rally Kenya has run in June. Nevertheless, it’s again in its conventional Easter weekend slot for 2024 and is subsequently the primary gravel-based spherical of the yr.
It additionally coincides with Kenya’s wet season, which suggests the specter of downpours is ever current. For an occasion ranked as some of the difficult on the calendar, that prospect solely provides to the duty in retailer for the FIA WRC drivers and their groups as they negotiate the beautiful East African terrain.
The predominantly clay-based roads turn out to be extraordinarily slippery within the moist however the searing ambient and floor temperatures imply it’s not lengthy earlier than they dry. So, whereas street clearing is much less of an element on Safari Rally Kenya as it’s on different loose-surface rounds of the FIA WRC season, the excessive likelihood of rain places a agency give attention to the beginning order for every leg.
FIA Vice-President for Sport Africa and FIA World Motor Sport Council member Rodrigo Rocha shall be attendance throughout Safari Rally Kenya.
In the meantime, Pirelli, the FIA WRC’s official tyre suppler, is offering its Scorpion KX tyre in mushy and exhausting compounds to all Rally1 automobiles. The mushy compound is the primary selection for damp situations with the exhausting choice obtainable for dry-weather operating.
THE ROUTE IN SHORT
The FIA World Rally Championship stars and their automobiles shall be challenged on 19 levels over a timed distance of 367.76 kilometres, a route that’s largely unchanged from 2023.
Following the event-opening Tremendous Particular Kasarani in out-of-town Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, on Thursday March 28, the rally relocates to Lake Naivasha, its hub for the remaining three days of competitors.
Friday’s first full leg consists of three levels run both aspect of the Naivasha service halt. Kedong, SS4/SS7, encompasses a new part within the Miti Mbili space and is run in a reverse route in comparison with 2023.
Saturday’s motion relies round Lake Elmenteita north of Naivasha. The three repeated levels embrace Sleeping Warrior, now as much as 36.08 kilometres from 31.04 and the longest of the rally after a brand new closing part of some seven kilometres was added.
Sunday’s deciding leg begins with Malewa, which has been decreased from 9.00 kilometres in size to eight.33. The Oserengoni stage, titled Oserian final season, will get its identify from the wildlife conservancy property the place it’s situated. The ten.53-kilometre Hell’s Gate exams hosts the Wolf Energy Stage from 14:15.
SAFARI RALLY KENYA DATA
Stage distance:367.76 kmTotal distance: 1267.57 kmNumber of levels: 19
RALLY1 CONTENDERS
Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Workforce: Provisional championship chief Thierry Neuville heads Hyundai’s bid for a primary Safari Rally Kenya victory. He’s joined by Ott Tänak, the 2019 world champion, and Esapekka Lappi, the winner of Rally Sweden final month.
M-Sport Ford World Rally Workforce: Having scored his maiden WRC podium in Sweden, Adrien Fourmaux returns to the scene of his first FIA WRC stage win, a feat he achieved in 2021. Grégoire Munster and Jourdan Serderidis full the line-up, which expands to 3 automobiles.
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT: Elfyn Evans leads Toyota’s Safari problem with the Japanese producer unbeaten on the occasion because it returned the FIA WRC schedule in 2021. Takamoto Katsuta, who claimed his first FIA WRC podium in Kenya in 2021, and 2022 Safari winner, the double world champion Kalle Rovanperä, be a part of Evans at Toyota.
SUPPORTING CATEGORIES
The FIA WRC2 Championship supplies a possibility for FIA African Rally Championship rivals to construct their expertise and showcase their expertise on a worldwide stage – whereas shining a highlight on the FIA ARC. Two notable drivers flying the FIA ARC flag are Karan Patel (Škoda Fabia), the 2023 FIA ARC champion, and a number of Kenyan title winner and 2021 FIA ARC champion Carl Tundo (Ford Fiesta).
Toksport WRT’s Oliver Solberg, on the wheel of a Škoda Faba RS, is joint first within the provisional FIA WRC2 standings after his Rally Sweden victory and is the highest class seed forward of Nicolas Ciamin, who makes his Safari Rally Kenya debut in a Hyundai i20 N.
Three-time FIA European Rally Championship winner Kajetan Kajetanowicz begins the defence of his FIA WRC2 Challenger crown on Safari Rally Kenya in a Škoda Fabia RS.
Gus Greensmith, the 2023 FIA WRC runner-up, makes his first world championship look of the season in Kenya in a Toksport WRT-entered Škoda Fabia RS, as does Daniel Chwist (Škoda Fabia RS), whose grandfather, Sobiesław Zasada, gained the FIA ERC title thrice and made his final Safari Rally Kenya look in 2021 aged 91.
Diego Domínguez, second within the 2023 FIA Junior Championship, steps as much as FIA WRC2 degree for the primary time in a Citroën C3, whereas Charles Munster (Hyundai i20 N) is Rally1 driver Grégoire Munster’s youthful brother.
MEDIA INFORMATION
Media accreditation
Media accreditation have to be collected in individual by accredited move holders from the Accreditation Desk, situated on the WRC Safari Rally Kenya Service Park, Wildlife Analysis and Coaching Institute (WRTI), 7F52+47R, Biashara Nakuru City East, Karagita, Naivasha.
Google Hyperlink: https://goo.gl/maps/9oytvE2cnc3qu7U87
Media Accreditation – Opening hours:
Sunday 24 March: 12:00 – 18:00 (for recce solely)Monday 25 March: 14:00 – 19:00Tuesday 26 March: 14:00 – 19:00Wednesday 27 March: 08:00 – 20:00Thursday 28 March: 08:00 – 20:00Friday 29 March: upon request solely (accreditation@wrc.com)
Media Centre
The Media Centre is situated at: WRC Safari Rally Kenya Service Park, Wildlife Analysis and Coaching Institute (WRTI), Naivasha, Kenya.
Media Accreditation – Opening hours:Tuesday March 26: 14:00 – 19:00 hrsWednesday March 27: 08:00 – 20:00 hrsThursday March 28: 08:00 – 20:00 hrsFriday March 29: 07:45 – 20:00 hrsSaturday March 30: 07:45 – 20:00 hrsSunday March 31: 06:45 – 20:00 hrs
Safari Rally Kenya – Media Actions and Alternatives
Tuesday March 26 17:00 hrsMandatory Tabard Media Security Briefing (Media Middle, Naivasha Service Park) Wednesday March 27 10:01 – 12:00Shakedown for P1 and different invited crews (Loldia, 5.40 km)12:01 – 13:00 Shakedown for all precedence crews (Loldia, 5.40 km)13:01 – 14:00Shakedown for P2, P3 and non-priority crews (Loldia, 5.40 km)13:30 – 15:00FIA WRC Media Pen with P1 and P2 drivers (Media Zone, Naivasha SP)17:15 – 18:15Launch of Rally Faculty Kenya of his Excellency President W. Ruto In attendance of O. Tänak, O. and P. Solberg (SSS1 Kasarani, Nairobi) Thursday March 28 10:45 – 11:15National media interview opp. with P1 and P2 drivers (KICC, Nairobi)11:15 – 11:35Autograph session with P1 & chosen P2 drivers 20-24, 28 & 34 (KICC, Nairobi)11:35WRC Household Photograph (KICC, Nairobi) Photograph 1 feat. all P1 crews Photograph 2 feat. all different crews12:26Start of Part 1 (KICC, Nairobi)13:25FIA WRC Meet the Crews (SSS1 Kasarani)After SSS1Autograph session for all crews (Artwork Caffe, Safari Centre, Naivasha)Approx. 16:30Media Zone TC1A (Service Park, Naivasha) Friday March 29 07:15 hrsStart of Part 2 (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 11:30Media Zone TC4A (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 17:00Media Zone TC7A (Service Park, Naivasha) Saturday March 30 06:35Start of Part 4 (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 11:50Media Zone TC10A (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 18:15Media Zone TC13A (Service Park, Naivasha) Sunday March 31 06:15Start of Part 6 (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 10:00Media Zone TC16A (Service Park, Naivasha)Approx. 14:30Media Zone TC19A (Hell’s Gate, behind Podium)15:15Podium (Hell’s Gate)Approx. 16:30Media Zone TC19C (Media Zone space, Naivasha SP)17:00FIA Put up-event Press Convention (Media Centre)
(All occasions native and approximate)
Media zones
Media Zones attended by all drivers and chosen group representatives will function as follows: TC1A, TC4A, TC7A, TC10A, TC13A, TC16A, TC19A and TC19C.
FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews – SSS1 Kasarani, Thursday March 28
13:25 – FIA WRC Assist ChampionshipsToksport WRT – Gus Greensmith (GBR), Škoda Fabia RS Rally2Nicolas Ciamin (FRA), Hyundai i20 N Rally2Karan Patel (KEN), Škoda Fabia Rally2Carl Tundo (KEN), Ford Fiesta Rally2
13:35 – FIA WRC ChampionshipHyundai Shell Mobis WRT – Esapekka Lappi (FIN), Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HybridM-Sport Ford WRT– Adrien Fourmaux (FRA), Ford Puma Rally1 HybridToyota GAZOO Racing WRT – Takamoto Katsuta (JPN), Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid
Put up-event FIA Press Convention – Media Centre, Sunday March 31, 17:00
High 3 drivers in general classification and profitable co-driverRepresentative of profitable manufacturerWinning FIA WRC2, WRC2 Challenger, WRC3 and Masters Cup drivers
The FIA WRC Meet the Crews dwell interviews and FIA Put up-event Press Convention are broadcast dwell on the official WRC Youtube and social media channels.
SAFARI RALLY KENYA MANUFACTURER ENTRIES
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRTElfyn Evans (GBR)/Scott Martin (GBR) – #33 Takamoto Katsuta (JPN)/Aaron Johnston (IRL) – #18 Kalle Rovanperä (FIN)/Jonne Halttunen (FIN) – #69 Hyundai Shell Mobis WRTThierry Neuville (BEL)/Martijn Wydaeghe (BEL) – #11 Ott Tänak (EST)/Martin Järveoja (EST) – #8 Esapekka Lappi (FIN)/Janne Ferm (FIN) – #4 M-Sport Ford WRTAdrien Fourmaux (FRA)/Alexandre Coria (FRA) – #16 Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL) – #13
FIA WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP 2024 CLASSIFICATION
The provisional classifications following spherical two of the 2024 FIA World Rally Championship can be found right here.
SAFARI RALLY KENYA 2023 RESULTS
1. S. Ogier (FRA)/V. Landais (FRA) Toyota GR Yaris Rally13h30m42.5s2. Ok. Rovanperä (FIN)/J. Halttunen (FRA)Toyota GR Yaris Rally1+6.7s3. E. Evans (GBR)/S. Martin (GBR)Toyota GR Yaris Rally1+2m58.5s
SAFARI RALLY KENYA RECENT WINNERS
2023Sébastien Ogier/Vincent LandaisToyota GR Yaris Rally1 2022Kalle Rovanperä /Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally12021Sébastien Ogier/Julien IngrassiaToyota Yaris WRC2019*Baldev Chager/Ravi SoniMitsubishi Lancer Evo X R42018*Carl Tundo/Tim JessopMitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4
*non-WRC occasion
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