Opportunity To Host Safari Rally For 5 Years Gives Kenya Room To Nurture Talents

The World Safari Rally that was held in Nakuru Kenya was ruled and dominated with pomp and color. It was the first time Kenya was coming back to the world Safari Rally stage after 19 years of being in the cold. Kenyan drivers took the opportunity to display their talent.

As the Safari Rally came to an end, President Uhuru Kenyatta announced that there was an agreement with the International Automobile Federation (FIA) that the Safari Rally will continue being part of the World Rally Championships for the next 5 years.

The Safari Rally was re-introduced into the WRC calendar for the first time in 19 years this year and the success of the event held in Naivasha has led to the FIA giving Kenya an extension. Many international rally drivers graced the event.

President Uhuru expressed his pride at the pitch-perfect running of the Rally which he said had shown the rest of the world Kenya’s mastery at hosting global events despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The future belongs to those who believe in their dreams. We have dreamed and we delivered. We planned and succeeded through the collective effort and it is certain that the greatest show in motorsport in Africa will continue to thrill and inspire generations long into the future,” President Kenyatta stated.

The Kenyan teams in the Safari Rally did spectacularly well, especially those under Kabras. Kabras Rally Team’s performance in the WRC showed a solid future in the country’s rallying scene.

With great talents such as Onkar Rai was the best-placed local driver finishing in the seventh position. He capped off the WRC by winning the Category 3 race after the grueling four-day competition.

Onkar, who is the CEO of Menengai Oil Refineries, set a remarkable pace from the get-go in a Volkswagen Polo GTI R5. After edging out a healthy lead during the second day of the Safari Rally’s punishing leg, Onkar secured his position with a pair of fastest stage times on a penultimate day.

Onkar’s sizzling performance in the rally is a testimony to our nation’s role in spurring growth in the African rallying scene. The first two wins in WRC 3 were further cemented by five-time Safari Rally champion, Carl Flash Tundo navigated by Timothy Jessop, who closed the podium in 3:54:52.0 with a Polo GTI.

The Kabras Rally Team, together with the veterans Ian Duncan and Carl Tundo, formed the Kenyan team. But, Chager, Tundo, and Duncan are the only ones who have previously competed against the best in the WRC. The 2021 WRC was Chager’s eighth year under the under Kabras Sugar Racing sponsorship and in over two decades since his last WRC in 1998.

That aside, the extension of the hosting by Kenya gives young Kenyan drivers an opportunity to horn their skills and talents and showcase them to the world.