Ladies and gentlemen, rally fans and thrill seekers fasten your seat belts because the WRC Safari Rally fever is here! The excitement is so real that some Ugandan fans have already submitted their leave letters, written in bold ink: “Dear Boss, see you after the Safari Rally.” Others have even gone the extra mile and declared very convenient funerals for next week (we suspect these ‘funerals’ will be resurrected right after the rally). You see, missing the WRC Safari Rally is not an option it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to gather stories for your grandchildren, stories that begin with: “Back in my day, I watched the Safari Rally LIVE in Kenya…”
Meanwhile, in Kenya, it’s all hands on deck! The garages are buzzing, the wrenches are spinning, and the air smells of petrol and determination. The mechanics are performing their magic, turning nuts and bolts like surgeons in an operating theatre. Somewhere, a tired spanner has probably filed for early retirement due to overuse, but hey, perfection is the only standard for the Safari Rally.
As the WRC teams prepare to descend into the heart of Africa, the real adventure begins next week with reconnaissance (recce) runs. With two rounds already done Rallye Monte-Carlo and Rally Sweden the championship standings are heating up! Elfyn Evans sits pretty on top with 61 points, while Sébastien Ogier lurks in second with 33 points. The defending champion Thierry Neuville is playing catch up in fourth with 29 points, and Ott Tänak rounds off the top five with 26 points.
Toyota has been dominating the Safari Rally ever since its return in 2021, winning all four Kenyan rounds. The big question is will they extend their reign, or will another manufacturer rise to the occasion?
Kenya’s own Karan Patel and Tauseef Khan are gearing up to defend their African Rally Championship (ARC) title. This year’s ARC is looking highly competitive, with an impressive number of crews registering to battle it out across Africa. The WRC Safari Rally will also serve as the opening round of the ARC, with round two heading straight to Uganda. Yes, Uganda! Get ready for another motorsport showdown soon after Kenya’s dust settles.
Uganda’s representatives, Yasin Nasser and Ali Katumba, will be setting off for Kenya this Saturday, while the other crew, Timothy Gawaya and Wamala Francis, will depart on Friday. Rally fans back home are already sending them good luck messages (and probably some last-minute shopping lists “Yasin, don’t forget to bring back Kenyan tea!”).
But the real party starts when the Ugandan rally fanatics hit the road on the 15th, heading in full force to cheer on their drivers. If you see a convoy of cars packed with people waving Ugandan flags and blasting music at full volume, you already know Safari Madness is in full gear!
From Zambia to Tanzania, from Rwanda to Uganda, the message is clear: The WRC Safari Rally is here! Pack your bags, grab your flags, and let’s hit the road. Whether you’re a die-hard rally enthusiast or just looking for an excuse to escape work, Kenya is calling, and the answer is simple TWENDE KENYA!
