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World Rally Championships (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya has attracted 12 FIA World Rally Championship’s new hybrid-powered Rally1 cars which will debut on Kenya’s picturesque terrain on the weekend of June 23 – 26.

The star-studded 34-car field follows the close of the deadline for entries on May 23.

The state-of-the-art electrified hybrid era of the WRC is being run for the first time ever this season as part of the newly introduced FIA Rally Pyramid introduced at the start of the 2022 WRC season in Monte Carlo.

The FIA Rally Pyramid comprises Rally 1 which is the WRC car, Rally 2 (the former R5 cars), Rally 3, 4 and 5.

World champions Toyota Gazoo Racing will be featuring four GR Yaris Rally1 cars for defending champion and megastar Sébastien Ogier, Welshman Elfyn Evans, Japanese speedster Takamoto Kastuta and current WRC leader Kalle Rovanperä.

Ogier is teaming up with compatriot Benjamin Veillas for the first time on Kenyan soil following Julien Ingrassia’s retirement from the sport.

Ingrassia guided Ogier to a maiden Safari victory in Naivasha last year following their dramatic last minute comeback.

Estonian Ott Tänak, Belgian Thierry Neuville and flying Oliver Solberg will pilot the three Hyundai Motorsport’s i20 N Rally1 cars.

Neuville’s dreams of a maiden WRC Safari victory last year collapsed on the closing day’s opening Loldia speed test where the Belgian started the 11.33km stage with a lead of almost a minute in his Hyundai i20 over Takamoto Katsuta.

His hopes were shattered along with his car’s rear right suspension after he hit a rock midway through the test.

Five M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1 cars have also been listed for the iconic event. The British squad’s line-up has Craig Breen, Jourdan Serderidis, Gus Greensmith, Adrien Fourmaux and nine-time champion Sébastien Loeb.