Rallying has morphed into a technical
sport with the long drive stages replaced
by short compact stages run over a period
within the day. Long gone too are the night
drives which were synonymous with the
Safari Rally but due to security and safety
concerns, were removed from WRC circuit
rallies. The current rallies are run within a
closed rallying circuit during the day, unlike
the open roads days that were enjoyed in the
past.
These shifts will affect the running,
management and enjoyment of the Safari
Rally as we used to know it. The timing of
the Rally in the calendar has also moved
from the March-April (Easter weekend)
season to the cooler mid-July date.
The Rally will usually start on a Friday
and end on the Sunday featuring anything
between 15-25 routes otherwise known as
special stages. The essence is for the fastest
driver on each stage being awarded the
highest points and least time penalties to
complete the stages - the first/top driver
being awarded 25 points, 2nd (18 points),
3rd (15 points) and 10th (1 point).
Qualification and ranking of the drivers
will also be done using a qualification
stage on the first day which will also serve
as a commercial platform for sponsors. It
will also be the main crowd puller as the
period takes a spectator-stage style for
drivers to showcase their skills as they seek
top places before the race proper.
The winner of each Rally on the WRC
circuit scores points for his team/
manufacturer and aims to finish top in the
14 rallies across the world.
Other changes will include reduction of
Rallying has morphed into a technical sport
with the long drive stages replaced by short
compact stages run over a period within the
day. Long gone too are the night drives which
were synonymous with the Safari Rally but
due to security and safety concerns, were re-
moved from WRC circuit rallies. The current
rallies are run within a closed rallying circuit
during the day, unlike the open roads days
that were enjoyed in the past.
92 MAL32/19 ISSUE
the reconnaissance days, looking to
introduction of a recce stage for the
manufacturers to test their cars on the
identified stages - these being reduced
to a maximum of two days before the
Rally. These among other more technical
aspects will mean next year’s Safari Rally
will be a totally new experience for rally
enthusiasts. More so for motorsport
fans of yore.
Order in the House...
Speaking of motorsport, the Kenya
Motorsport Federation (KMSF) will
be putting champagne on ice as they
celebrate this. But this celebration will
be short-lived if the top officials do not
get their hands dirty these early days
and work closely with all stakeholders
needed to ensure the Safari Rally’s
success.
Without the intervention of the
Government of the day, the Rally would
most likely be out of the WRC. It is also
keen to note that the KMSF is among
the first beneficiaries of the Sports Fund
as developed by the GoK. A few years
ago, we witnessed internal squabbles in
the motorsport scene that had become
like other Kenyan sports bodies.
Given the level of commercial interests
and monies expected to be invested
and accrued in the 2020 calendar, it is
likely some individuals will suddenly
look to leverage their personal interests