Safari Rally: Fans to enjoy thrilling showpiece from the sky courtesy of KCB
Sports
By
Ochieng Oyugi
| Jun 10, 2021
For the first time after the Covid-19 pandemic, rally in Kenya will be watched by a section of fans.
The thrilling sport has missed spectators in the two legs of the KNRC series this year.
The motorsport enthusiasts were denied entry in the KNRC opening leg in Nakuru in January and the second leg in Machakos which was cancelled at the 11th hour in February.
Also, the fans missed the gruelling ARC Equator Rally that traversed rough terrains of Naivasha in April which acted as a curtain-raiser to the WRC Safari Rally to be staged at the same region on June 24-27.
In order to give a section of the spectators a lifetime experience in the Safari Rally after the ordeal, KCB Bank of Kenya has unveiled a chopper that will give their lucky vCard fans a ride during the two-day Safari Rally event in Naivasha and Nakuru spectator stages.
Over 36 lucky fans will get a chance to take the aerial ride over the Mt. Longonot, Soysambu Farm, and Hells gate stages enabling them to enjoy watching the rally route and cars from the sky.
“We are looking at giving rally fans a very different viewing experience,” KCB Group Acting Marketing, Communication, and Citizenship Director Wanyi Mwaura told Standard Sports at the chopper unveiling in Nairobi on Thursday.
“Our spectators have stuck with us over the past 19 years when WRC was absent; we want to return the favour by allowing them to experience the thrill of watching the race from the bird’s eye view.”
In April, the bank committed a Sh100 million support to the Safari Rally that has attracted world champion Sebastien Ogier of France and his arch-rival and Estonian speedster Otto Tanak.
The deal cements the KCB's footprint in supporting sports which cuts across various disciplines including motorsports, golf, athletics, chess, rugby, volleyball, and football.
“Our sponsorship has sustained motorsports in Kenya over the years, we want to give our pumped-up fans a lively experience,” said Mwaura.
“You can see the race track a lot better and it's good looking down on it all, rather than looking straight at it," she added.
The bank has an online activation rewarding fans to join KCB spectator stage during the rally while similar draws will be run during the event at the spectator stages.
The Bank is the Official Financial Partner in the championship which will be held on June 24-27, 2021.
The Bank is keen on further deepening its contribution towards sports in the East African region, as a way of supporting communities and building a critical mass of sporting talents, this is critically important as the pandemic continue to impact sports activities.
Over the past 18 years, KCB has invested over KShs.1.2 billion towards supporting motorsports, largely rallies and autocross circuits, through Kenya Motorsports Federation.