• The Safari fervor outscored all the events this year with the Shakedown at Loldia ranking the most-watched in WRC history thanks to traffic from Kenya occasioned by a relentless pre-event public blitz.
• The Safari fervor outscored all the events this year with the Shakedown at Loldia ranking the most-watched in WRC history thanks to traffic from Kenya occasioned by a relentless pre-event public blitz.
Image: FILE
The enthusiasm of regional spectators in welcoming back the World Rally Championships Safari Rally after a 19-year hiatus amazed the rally-sport world for various reasons.
Granted, the Kenyan round of the global series lived up to its billing, not only for its longstanding energy-sapping and picturesque tradition, but also as the most enticing and endearing WRC event for fans across the globe in 2021.
The iconic event, first held in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, racked up amazing numbers in regard to following and viewership across the globe.
The WRC post-event Promoter report ranked Safari Rally as the most followed ever on Facebook with a massive 31.8 million views as opposed to Rally Italia Sardegna, which accumulated 16.8 million views and 18.6 million views in 2019 and 2018 respectively.
The Safari fervor outscored all the events this year with the Shakedown at Loldia ranking the most-watched in WRC history thanks to traffic from Kenya occasioned by a relentless pre-event public blitz.
Traffic jam on the Moi South Lake Road as late as 1 am reaffirmed the level of enthusiasm for rally-crazy spectators, who transformed “Vasha” into a busy 24-hour setting, something akin to New York City.
Safari CEO Phineas Kimathi says alternative roads for the rally traffic have been considered for the 2022 event, as they seek to avoid the traffic snarl-ups occasioned by a clash between rally spectators and general road users.
Image: FILE
Takamoto’s Safari dream shattered
Toyota Gazoo Racing Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta’s top-speed antics caught the eye of the global racing fraternity as he emerged as the most performing post on Facebook with over 4.1 million views.
The WRC Promoter report further says that the Safari racked up an astonishing 26.6 million Instagram impressions with a total of 262 posts and over 3.5 million video views.
Kalle Rovanpera’s post was the most performing post on Instagram. On microblogging site Twitter, the Safari rally generated a splendid 5.4 million impressions with over 150k video views.
BBC World news led Priority 1 news channels with 78 million views, followed by Japan (76M) and the United States (52M). Nation Africa pay wall recorded 2M impressions to rank first in Africa and 14th in the world.
The Safari fervor outscored all the events this year with the Shakedown at Loldia ranking the most-watched in WRC history thanks to traffic from Kenya occasioned by a relentless pre-event public blitz.
Aside from WRC Promoter platforms, Youtube attracted 15 million viewers, not to mention over 50 newspaper full pages locally in four days as well as extensive digital coverage.
WRC Commentator Becs Williams on her part said: “It was my first time being on the Safari. I did work on the event back in 2002 but I was working remotely in a studio in the UK. I had a feel of it back then but didn’t experience it first hand until 2021 and I must say I was blown away on many levels."
"There were so many doubters of what it was going to be like and after the Shakedown Stage, their heads were turned and their minds were changed. You simply don’t see stages like these in the championship and that’s so important. Safari was very different and we were all captivated by the animals because back home, in Wales, there are only sheep across the road and horses."
"In Safari, you would see rhinos just wandering around and I think it blew everyone’s mind. There was a lot of dust which everyone loves to see and brilliant helishots. What the drivers loved was the support of the fans from the ceremonial start to the super special stage, Power Stage at Hell’s Gate, to the finish.”
Image: FILE
Ogier wins the Safari
Frenchman Sebastien Ogier made a stunning comeback after nursing a damaged rear damper on the opening day to win the Safari.
After beating Takamoto by 21 seconds to chalk up the coveted Safari crown, Ogier candidly admitted: “It might be a bit shorter than old days, but the challenge is still very tough. We enjoyed it.”
“It’s been an amazing experience to be here. The support we got from the people here is incredible. There was a huge amount of people cheering us on on road sections.”
Onkar Rules WRC3
In a credible seventh place placing (overall) Onkar Rai was the highest-placed local driver in his Volkswagen Polo GTI R5.
The Nakuru speed merchant sealed victory by 4min 04.0sec and dedicated the win to his brother Tejveer, who crashed out on Day One. Tej was airlifted to Nairobi for specialised following a spine-related injury. Onkar was later named the LG Sport’s Personally of the Month of June. He later donated his LG TV prize to Nakuru level 5 hospital to create awareness for people with spinal injuries.
The second-best placed local Karan Patel at eighth in his Ford Fiesta R5. The 30-year-old racked up 40sec in penalties due to late check-ins, but had a healthy 3min 10.3sec advantage over another local driver Carl Tundo, at ninth.
Tundo’s rally had been eventful, to say the least. The former Safari winner started as a favourite, but dropped over seven minutes when he crashed his Polo into a tree in SS4. He went on to claim multiple stage wins and was relieved to salvage a WRC3 podium.
Onkar, Tundo and Karan also scored historic WRC points on Safari.
Image: FILE
Tundo’s Double
Tundo won a rare double of the KNRC and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) titles to repeat Jassi Chatthe’s 2015 feat. He delivered the ARC title alongside longtime navigator Tim Jessop following victory in Rwanda last month. Tundo won four out of six events in the continental series in Zambia, Tanzania, Rwanda and the revived Equator Rally, which replaced the Safari in the ARC.
On the local scene, Tundo beat archival Baldev Chager to the KNRC title on homestretch in the KCB Guru Nanak Rally.
Yasin Nasser of Uganda finished second in the ARC series ahead of initial leader Guy Botteril of South Africa.
In winning the ARC, Tundo is now assured of a drive in the Hyundai i20N Rally2 car in one of the WRC events of his choice in 2022.
The World Governing Body, FIA, partnered with Hyundai Motorsport to launch the “FIA Rally Champions’ World Tours” intended to encourage and promote rallying talent across its regional series of events. The campaign will run for three years. He is nevertheless undecided on which WRC event he would pick. And as much as he has hinted that he would like to perform as a local on Safari, he is also keen to make his debut on snow or tarmac events.
The infrastructural facet of Safari
Sporting events only happen for a few days and once done and dusted and the event television cameras depart, infrastructure remains.
Hotel upgrades around this period and the timely re-carpeting of Moi South Lake Road; a state of the art asphalt Service Park (which is by and large the biggest on the WRC circuit) and most importantly the timely upgrade of Naivasha Level 5 Hospital where helipad considerations were factored in, were some of the milestones associated with the Safari.
Hotels in Naivasha recorded an unprecedented sellout, which was good for Kenya’s fast-rising sports tourism, also boosted by the iconic Kenya Open Golf, Kip Keino Classic and the IAAF World Under 20 Championships.
2022 FIA Regulation Changes
Last but not least, the FIA introduced the Rally Pyramid effective 2022 where Rally 1 will be the World Rally Car and Rally 2 — the former R5 car.
Rally 3 will be a new class to replace N4, while Rally 4 will be the former R2 cars 2WD modified and Rally 5 a cheaper 2WD cars class for beginners.
FINAL STANDINGS
KNRC
1 Carl Tundo 187
2 Baldev Chager 174
3 Jasmeet Chana 137
4 Karan Patel 110
5. Aakif Virani 93
6 Onkar Rai 73
FIA AFRICAN RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP
1 Carl Tundo (KEN) 120pts
2 Yasin Nasser (UGA) 96pts
3 Guy Botteril (ZAF) 73pts
4 Karan Patel (KEN) 48pts
5 Giancarlo Davite (RWA) 34pts
6 Kimathi Mcrae(KEN) 32pts
7= Farid Daniel Assaf (CIV) 24pts
7=Tejveer Rai (KEN)24pts
9 Jas Mangat (UGA) 21pts
10 Maxine Wahome (KEN) 19pts
11= Onkar Rai (KEN) 17pts
11=Jeremy Wahome (KEN) 17pts
13 Jasmeet Chana (KEN) 15pts
13=Gurpal Sandhu (TZA) 15pts
15= Nikhil Sachania (KEN) 13pts
15= Nzioka Waita (KEN) 13pts
17 Piero Canobbio (KEN) 11pts
18 Evans Kavisi (KEN) 9pts