The recent spate of heavy rains in Kenya and constant flooding have hampered the planning of the Kenyan leg of the FIA African Championship, popularly known as ARC Equator Rally Kenya.
Consequently, the 2024 Equator Rally Kenya—initially scheduled for the end of June—has been declared a force majure and combined with Kenya's season-closing Guru Nanak Rally for the six-round ARC continental series.
In a bulletin to Licence Holders and Organisers of Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF), general manager, Mwaura Njuguna clarified that the weather circumstances also informed the change of date for the KNRC-3 Nanyuki Rally. The event initially scheduled for May 25-26 will now take place on June 29-30.
Subsequently, the Equator Rally has since been scheduled from June 29-30 to November 30-December 1 and will run as both the Guru Nanak and Equator.
"Following these changes, KNRC 9 will run as the Equator ARC Rally as well as Guru Nanak. Consequently, the 2024 Kenya National Rally Championship will comprise 8 legs," said Mwaura.
The stages for the Equator, initially centred around the Voi region, were swamped— making it impossible to drive or access the areas where the rally was planned to take place.
As preparations for the Equator Rally came to a complete stop, KMSF applied to the World Motorsports governing body, FIA, for approval of the date change. "The request was accepted and changes effected accordingly," added Mwaura.
Defending Africa Champion Karan Patel currently tops the ARC log ahead of Uganda's Jas Managat and compatriot Hamza Anwar. Karan won the season-opening Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally in Jinja earlier this month.
Carl "Flash" Tundo leads the Kenyan Series with 39 points ahead of Eldoret winner Samaan Vohra with 33 and Minesh Rathod with 29. Defending Kenya champion Jasmeet Chana lies fourth after skipping the KNRC-2 Safari Rally.
