Key dates and stages for 2024 WRC Safari Rally Kenya
27th March 2024
The 2024 WRC Safari Rally is scheduled to be held between March 28 and March 31 in Naivasha.
- The 2024 WRC Safari Rally is scheduled to be held between March 28 and March 31 in Naivasha.
- Most of the activities will take place at the Hells Gate National Park.
- Some of the routes that drivers will use include Sleeping Warrior, Loldia and Malewa.
The much-anticipated 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya is around the corner.
Thousands of spectators from within and outside the country are expected to converge in Naivasha, Nakuru County to witness the world’s best drivers battle it out for the crown in the event which will run between March 28 and March 31.
Among them are Adrien Fourmax, Thierry Neuville and the 2023 third-place finisher Elfyn Evans.
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Unforgettable experience
Some of the drivers were treated to an unforgettable experience on Monday at the Maasai Mara National Reserve by the Kenyan tourism ministry.
According to Gregoire Munster, he had a wonderful time at one of the world’s most famous tourist destination.
“It was quite an experience. Seeing the Maasai dancing for us and welcoming us was really nice,” he commented.
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On his part, Neuville revealed that he had a chance to see some of the big five animals at Masai Mara.
“Some Lions and Elephants. Basically, what you don’t get to see in Naivasha. So, it was something I was missing over the past few years. I mean there are a lot of Zebras and Giraffes and so on, but there are very little elephants and lions. So, it was nice to see them,” he observed.
Stages and dates
This year’s Safari Rally edition will have seven stages with the Hells Gate National Park being the focal point.
Stage one is Loldia, where the shakedown will take place on Wednesday, March 27. Shakedown refers to the process of sampling the status of the road and testing the car before the start of the main event.
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After the shakedown, stakeholders will head to Nairobi on Thursday, March 28 for stage two, which is the official flagging off of the rally.
President William Ruto is expected to grace the ceremony that will take place at the Kenyatta International Conference Center (KICC).
In addition, stage three also known as the super special stage will go down on the same day in Kasarani, before the drivers head to Nakuru County for stage four.
Drivers will race in the Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong routes twice on Friday, March 29 before they head to Soysambu on Saturday, March 30 for the fifth stage.
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This stage, which has been described by drivers as one of the challenging ones, will see drivers race from Soysambu to the Sleeping Warrior through Elementaita two times.
Similar to stage four and five, drivers will race from Malewa to Oserian and Hell’s Gate twice in the power stage (stage 6) on Sunday, March 31.
Finally, the 2024 Safari Rally will end with the prize-giving ceremony at the scenic Hells Gate National Park on Sunday.
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