PHOTOS: President Uhuru Kenyatta flags off WRC Safari Rally at KICC

President Uhuru Kenyatta officially flags off the 2021 WRC Safari Rally [Photo: PSCU]

President Uhuru Kenyatta has officially launched the Safari Rally Kenya signalling the return of the famous motorsport competition on the global calendar.

The Safari Rally last featured on the World Rally Championship calendar in 2002, but after frantic lobbying across European capitals, Kenya finally got to stage the storied competition after a 19-year wait.

President Uhuru was joined by FIA president Jean Todt for the historic flag-off ceremony alongside Sports Cabinet Secretary Amina Mohamed and the WRC Safari Rally CEO Phineas Kimathi.

President Uhuru Kenyatta officially flags off the 2021 WRC Safari Rally [Photo: PSCU]

Onkar Rai co-drive by Drew Sturrock was first off the ramp at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre with President Uhuru flagging off the local speed-star.

Second off the ramp was multiple national rally champions Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo co-driven by Tim Jessop, who followed Onkar to Kasarani for a face-to-face showdown in a WRC Special Stage expected to start at 2 pm.