Kenya seek Safari Rally return

NAIROBI:

Kenya is in talks with motorsport’s ruling body the FIA over returning the Safari Rally to the world rally championship after an absence of 14 years. Kenyan Motorsports Federation chief Phineas Kimathi is in Geneva to brief the FIA about the government’s committment to stage Africa’s only leg of the championship from 2019. Scottish rally legend Colin McRae, who died in 2007, won the event the last time it figured on the WRC calendar in 2002 - his final WRC win “The Kenya Government will offer all forms of guarantees including financial obligations towards the event,” Kenyan sports minister Hassan Wario promised in a letter to WRC managing director Oliver Ciesla. “As a priority, the government shall put in place the necessary structures leading towards a full WRC Safari in 2019 after running a candidate event in 2018, and 2017 Africa Rally Championship event as a dry run WRC Safari.” Wario wrote. The Kenyan classic was dropped from the WRC calender 14 years ago due to lack of financial and organisational support from the government.