Hello

Your subscription is almost coming to an end. Don’t miss out on the great content on Nation.Africa

Ready to continue your informative journey with us?

Hello

Your premium access has ended, but the best of Nation.Africa is still within reach. Renew now to unlock exclusive stories and in-depth features.

Reclaim your full access. Click below to renew.

25 drivers beat WRC Safari Rally deadline

Kalle Rovenpera

Maasai dancers cheer Finland's Kalle Rovenpera navigated by Jonne Halttunen in their Toyota Yaris upon winning the 2022 World Rally Championships Safari Rally on June 26, 2022 at Hell’s Gate in Naivasha.

Photo credit: File | Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

  • They will all drive Mitsubishi Evo 10 make, However, the three junior national team drivers_ McRae Kimathi, Hamza Anwar and Jeremiah Wahome have been confirmed, driving the same.

Fresh from a season best second overall place in the World Rally Championship Portugal Rally recently, Dani Sordo leads a strong three-car Hyundai team to the WRC Safari Rally slated for June 22-26.

The Spaniard, navigated by compatriot Candido Camera in a Hyundai i20 Hybrid R1, teams up with Safari regular Thierry Neville of Belgium and Finland’s Esapekka Lappi.

Sordo is among 25 drivers who have confirmed participation ahead of Monday’s deadline. Event Secretary Helen Shiri received the entries.

National champion Karan Patel has entered a Ford Fiesta R2 and will race alongside Aakif Virani (Skoda Fabia), Piero Cannobio (Hyundai i20) and Samman Vohra (Ford Fiesta R2) for glory in the main competition of the WRC.

Only four drivers will score points in the Kenya National Rally Championship category. They are Nikhil Sachania, Evans Nzioka Kavivisi, Minesh Rathod and Burundi-Italian based Giancarlo Davite.

They will all drive Mitsubishi Evo 10 make, However, the three junior national team drivers_ McRae Kimathi, Hamza Anwar and Jeremiah Wahome have been confirmed, driving the same.

Entries 2023 WRC Safari Rally

1:  Kalle Rovanpera, FIN/Jonne HALTTUNEN ,FIN, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2: Takamoto Katsuta ,JPN, /Aaron Johnson, IRL, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
3:  Elfyn Evans,GBR,/Scott Martin,GBR, Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Rally1
4:  Sébastien Ogier,FRA/Vincent Landais FRA GR Yaris Rally1 Rally1
5: Thierry Neuville, BEL/Martijn Wydaeghe, BEL, Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Rally1
6:  Esapekka Lappi, FIN/Janne Ferm, FIN, Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Rally1
7: Daniel Sordo, ESP/Candido Carrera,  ESP , Hyundai i20 N Rally1
8: Kajetan Kajetanowicz, POL/Maciej  Szczepaniak, POL, Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
9: Martin Propkop, CZE/ Zdeněk  Jurka, CZE, Ford Fiesta MKII Rally2
10: Daniel Chwist, POL/Kamil Hellier,  POL, Ford Fiesta MKII Rally2
11:  Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan, KEN,  Ford Fiesta Rally2
12:  Samman Vohra, KEN, Gugu Panesar,  KEN, Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
13:  Miguel Diaz/Rodrigo Sanjuan,ESP, Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
14: Aakif VIRANI, KEN/ Azhar Bhakti, KEN, Skoda  Fabia Rally2
15:  Armin Kremer,GER/ Timo Gottschalk, GER, Fabia Evo Rally2
16: Piero Canobbio,KEN/Fabrizia Pons, ITA, Hyundai NG i20 Rally2
17:  Jeremiah,Wahome,KEN/ Victor Okungi, KEN,  Ford Fiesta Rally3
18:   Hamza  Anwar, KEN/Adnan Din,KEN, KEN Fiesta Rally3 Rally3
19:   McRae Kimathi, KEN/Mwangi KIONI, KEN  Ford Fiesta Rally3 Rally3
20:  Diego Dominguez, PRY/Rogelio Panate, ESP, Ford  Fiesta Rally3
21: Jason Bailey,CAN/ James Willets, CAN Ford Fiesta Rally3
22: Giancarlo Davite,ITA, Sylvia Vindevogel, BEL, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
23:  Nikhil Sachania, KEN/Deep Patel, KEN, Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
24:   Evans Nzioka,KEN/Absalom Aswan, KEN, Lancer Evo X NR4
25:   Minesh Rathod,KEN/Jamie Mavtavish, KEN, Lancer Evo X NR4