The excitement around this year’s WRC Safari Rally is reaching its highest peak with just days for the rallying spectacle to rev into action.
The Safari Rally, the seventh round of the 2023 World Rally Championship, is set for June 22-25 in Naivasha.
A total of 32 crews will be part of the third edition of the event since its return to the World Rally Championship.
Toyota Gazoo Racing has dominated the previous two years with Sebastian Ogier winning in 2021 and Kalle Rovanpera leading what was a 1-4 TGR finish last year.
“I love the Safari Rally. Winning this event is one of the highlights of my career. Really, it’s one of the special ones. The place is quite magical,” said Sebastien Ogier when he spoke to wrc.com.
Kenya’s Karan Patel will be the man to watch as he goes against foreign crews in the WRC2 category.
Patel is tasked to edge last year’s class winner Kajetan Kajetanowicz from Poland, Oliver Solberg, and Grégoire Munster among others.
With only one foreign crew in the WRC3 category, Diego Dominguez from Paraguay, Kenya’s Hamza Anwar, Jeremiah Wahome and McRae Kimathi will be out to keep the victory at home.
This year’s flag-off will be held at Uhuru Park and thereafter crews will head to the Kasarani Grounds for the Super Special Stage.
Eighteen stages will be covered from Friday to Sunday to complete a total competitive distance of 362.68 kilometers.
