State backs Safari Rally return to world series

The Kenyan government said it will leave nothing to chance as plans to have Safari Rally reinstated to the World Rally Championship (WRC) by 2019 gather speed.

This follows a commitment letter delivered by Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) chairman, Phineas Kimathi, to the International Motorsport Federation (FIA) General Assembly in Vienna, Austria last Friday.

This campaign comes ahead of FIA President Jean Todt's visit to Kenya on December 12, 2016.

"The Kenya government will offer all forms of guarantees including financial obligations towards the event, the FIA and WRC Promoter," Sports Cabinet Secretary Hassan Wario wrote in the letter delivered by Kimathi.

"We shall constitute inter-government agencies in conjunction with the KMSF, once we get the go-ahead from WRC," added Wario.

The re-admission of Safari Rally to the WRC was part of President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Manifesto. The President met with Todt last year at State House, where he re-affirmed Kenya's desire to have the Safari back in the WRC.

"As a priority, the government shall put in place the necessary structures leading towards a full WRC Safari in 2019 after running a candidate event in 2018 and 2017; the Africa Rally Championship event as a dry run ahead of WRC Safari," said the Minister.

The FIA WRC Promoter venture is headed by Ciesla (Sportsman Media Group0 and Jona Siebel (Red Bull Media House) and they are responsible for all commercial aspects of the FIA World Rally Championship.

These include broadcast formats, TV productions and marketing of global media and sponsorship rights. The WRC Promoter does promotions for WRC.

Kimathi said the world of motorsport is excited with the progress.