Preparations for the eleventh edition of the East Africa Safari Rally Classic are in full swing ahead of the highly anticipated event scheduled to run from December 9 to 18, with this edition boasting the highest number of entries ever recorded.

With this year’s mantra being #TwendeClassic, a total of 63 have confirmed participation, including 44 international and 19 local entries.  The event has drawn involvement from 27 countries, promising an exhilarating experience for fans and enthusiasts alike.

Organizers have invested US$14 million (Sh2.1 billion) in foreign exchange and project a benefit of Sh250 million for the eleven counties hosting the EA Safari Rally Classic 2023.

The ten-day event will cover approximately 4,000km across the counties, commencing from Vipingo in Mombasa County.

Despite the ongoing heavy rains nationwide, and beyond, organizers assure participants and spectators of an uninterrupted experience.

They’ve implemented various measures, including deploying 150 mud cars strategically along the routes, standby tractors for assistance, and volunteers to aid cars stuck in mud or facing obstacles like rivers.

Speaking to People Sport, Natasha Tundo, the event consultant, expressed confidence that the rain and muddy terrain will enhance the event’s excitement, challenging drivers and navigators to showcase their top skills.

Notably, this edition features a female duo with female mechanics participating alongside their male counterparts.

“For the first time we have a ladies’ team; Olga Lounova and Lilia Khousnoutdinova,” Tundo said.

Futhermore, Devon Bhundia, Rajesh Maini’s navigator, expressed delight at the event’s high number of entries.

Bhundia, involved in the series since 2017, looks forward to reuniting with old crews and welcoming new ones.

“We are looking forward to meeting old crews that we have become friends with and the new crews coming into the country to participate in the event,” he told People Sport.

Acknowledging the unpredictable weather, he emphasized, “We have to take each day as it comes. We cannot really plan too much in advance of how we would want to drive or attack each stage–all will be dictated by the notes received by the organizers a day before. It could be multiple ammendments that they keep on adding to the routes and we have to factor in all that into our driving style.”

He stressed cautious driving on wet or slippery terrains to minimize car damage.

The rally’s secretive route information will be provided a day before each leg.

Safaricom stands as the primary sponsor, contributing Sh6 million to the event, joined by sponsors like Isuzu, Carnivore, Vipingo Ridge and White Cap, among others.

Shift in gears

Meanwhile, Equator Rally Kenya, traditionally held in April, will now take place on October 26 and 27 next year, as revealed in the newly released draft for the 2024 Motorsport calendar.

This alteration marks a departure from its usual placement as the second round of the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) for the past three editions. The forthcoming Equator Rally will, instead, conclude the season and will be orchestrated by the Sikh Union Club (SUC).

The change in the Equator Rally’s schedule aligns with the iconic WRC Safari Rally’s shift from its recent late June slot back to its revered Easter dates.

Mwaura Njuguna, General Manager of Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF), confirmed the finalization of the 2024 Motorsport Calendar following the Motor Sport Council’s meeting.

“The Motor Sport Council of KMSF met and finalized the final draft of the calendar which awaits board approval next week,” stated Mwaura, shedding light on the adjustments.

He further elaborated on the expansion of the Kenya National Karting series from 10 to 12 rounds and the reintroduction of the Hillclimb with six rounds scheduled for the upcoming season.

Moreover, Mwaura announced the introduction of Drag Racing in 2024, comprising three rounds organized by Delta Motorsport. The inaugural round of the Drag racing series is slated for the weekend of April 13 and 14, with the EASCR Mini Classic Rally programmed to take place from August 17 to 18.

The 2024 Motorsport season is set to kick off with the Annual Awards Gala scheduled for the weekend of January 27 and 28.

This event will celebrate the most deserving personalities within the motorsport community, culminating in the recognition of the motorsport personality of the year.

Last year’s motorsport personality award was bestowed upon rally driver Karan Patel for clinching his maiden Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) title and securing the second position in the ARC series, trailing Leroy Gomes of Zambia.

The Sikh Union Autocross 1 will inaugurate the season’s competitions on the weekend of February 3rd-4th. Mwaura confirmed that the Kenya National Autocross championship will maintain its 10-round competition format for the upcoming season.