By Husna Muhdhar,
With only nine days till the commencement of the much-anticipated WRC Safari Rally, Gurvir Bhabra, the course’s clerk, has indicated that spectators will be introduced to new stages, as well as upgrades to the entrances to decrease traffic.
The organizers have also urged fans to be wary of scammers claiming to be promoting the event and offering Chopper rides.
According to Police Commissioner Julius Kabiru, the Kenyan airspace between Nairobi and Nakuru would be closed from Thursday, June 23 until Sunday, June 26.
During the rally, no commercial aircraft will be allowed to fly in Naivasha’s airspace.
Only the World Rally Championships Promoter filming helicopter and Two grounded medevac helicopters to provide medical support will be allowed in the airspace.
Police Commissioner Kabiru made this announcement on the same day the rally’s route was finalized.
Following the closing of sections of the Nairobi-Nakuru highway to allow rival safari rally drivers to utilize the segment between Naivasha and Soysambu, last year hundreds of vehicles spent many hours stuck in traffic.
“One of the new stages will be at Geothermal, and another at Naivasha. There are slight changes to the Kedong stage. We have also created a brand new spectator area down at Soysambu, with a different entrance to get the spectators off one route, thereby easing traffic on Nakuru Road,” Bhabra said.
Challenging dirt roads, stunning picturesque scenery and exotic wildlife are features of Safari Rally Kenya. Teams will tackle rocky and rutted tracks alongside unpredictable weather conditions, which can transform dry and dusty trails into muddy bogs.
On Wednesday, June 22, a 5.4-kilometer rally called Shakedown will take place in Loldia. Shakedown allows drivers to put their machines through their paces before the main event, while also allowing the media to shoot the action for the first time.
On Thursday, June 23, the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) will host the ceremonial opening ceremony, which will be followed by a 4.84km Super Special Stage in Kasarani before driver’s head to the Kenya Wildlife Training College (KWSTI) in Naivasha.
The World Rally Championship is the highest level of global competition in the motorsport discipline of rallying, owned and governed by the FIA. There are separate championships for drivers, co-drivers, manufacturers and teams.
Fans may see the main event in three stages on Friday, June 24: SS2/5 Lodia (19.17kms), SS3/6 Geothermal (11.68kms), and SS4/7 Kedong (31.25kms) before the cars return to KWSTI for more scrutineering.
On Saturday, June 25, drivers will compete in four of the competition’s longest stages: SS8/11 Soysambu (29.32 kilometers), SS9/12 Elementaita (15.08 kilometers), SS10/13 and Sleeping Warrior (31.04kms).
The drivers will compete in the last three stages on Sunday, June 16: SS 14/17 Oserian (17.93kms), SS15/18 Natasha (13.30kms), and SS16/19 Hells Gaye (13.30kms) (10.53kms).
