Racing: Kenya will be enlisted in the world championship for a three-year period from 2020

Carl "Flash" Tundo and his navigator Tim Jessop battle through a muddy section at Soysambu in Naivasha during the 2018 Safari Rally n March 17. [Boniface Okendo]

Safari Rally on verge of making WRC comeback

Should next year's event pass the test of time, Kenya will make it back to the world map.

In a bid to have the Safari Rally return to the World Rally Championship (WRC) roster in 2020, the Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) has announced new dates for next year's edition.

The rally will be held on July 4 to 7 from its traditional March dates.

According to KMSF President Phineas Kimathi, the decision to have the race in July was informed by the desire to give drivers, who will be fresh from competing in South America, an opportunity  to visit the country and familiarise with the race locations.

It will be the only opportunity available during the WRC mid-season break.

He also added that by having the race in July, the WRC promoter will have a chance to observe the rally, first held in 1953.

“Many drivers would like to come to Kenya to do recce. The WRC promoter will also be available to come and observe the Safari,” Kimathi told the Safari Rally website.

The Ministry of Sports and Heritage entered an agreement with the WRC promoter in June at the Federation International Automobile (FIA) headquarters in Paris, France seeking to have the Safari Rally reinstated to the WRC calendar after a 16-year absence.

Part of the deal signed then was to have the 2019 edition of the Safari Rally serve as a candidate event and should it pass the test of high standards of safety and organisation, it will be enlisted in the WRC for a three-year period from 2020 to 2022.

With next year's edition set to act as a test event in Safari Rally's quest to rejoin the WRC, Kimathi assured that the event has received enough backing from other African countries.

“The journey to return to the WRC has been long but we have had many supporters. I know many countries are bidding to enter the WRC but Africa has been behind us,” he said.

The 2019 race will be historic as it will be the first ever FIA candidate event to be held in Africa.

The venue for the race will be announced after an inspection by FIA route Director Michele Mouton, who is expected to inspect and approve the shortlisted venues.