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With less than 10 days before the 2023 WRC Safari Rally Championship takes place in Naivasha, three drivers under the FIA-Rally Stars Program were feted yesterday by sponsors Kenya Airways as the future of the sport.

The drivers, Hamza Anwar, Jeremiah Wahome and McRae Kimathi who were accompanied by their Navigators Mwangi Kioni and Victor Okundi  for Wahome and Kimathi respectively, had the opportunity to meet and greet the airline’s staff led by top Management at the Kenya Airways Embakasi Headquarters.

WRC Official and Kenya Motor Sports Federation boss Phineas Kimathi hailed the trio as the drivers who have grown with time and will soon be names to reckon with in the global stage.

“ These young men have built a name in big competitions. Back in. 2021, the FIA and the Kenyan government identified three talented young drivers who had achieved great tides and so began the WRC Young Drivers Project. They are our pride just like our partnership with KQ whom have stood with us over the years.

Mcrae, Hamza and Jeremiah are top drivers in their own right and have conquered races in Kenya and beyond so they attained their status today in the program through merit. We believe they will continue to shine and carry our flag high,” he said.

On his part, KQ CEO Allan Kivaluka promised to continue standing with the Rallying fraternity dubbing them as “Ambassadors”. He spared special mention for the three rallying aces that will represent the country in the forthcoming Safari Rally Event.

“We are obviously very proud to be associated with Rallying and over the years we have built a formidable relationship. Our partnership goes both ways and we are not necessarily sponsors but co-ambassadors because we share in supporting each other. Our Rally Sports Stars have come of age and we are extremely happy to see them develop under the FIA Young Drivers Program. Our destinies are linked and this is because as a brand we also recognize and want to support talent. We want to be part of the story and indeed this will be replicated across other sporting disciplines,” stated Kilavuka who also promised that the current package of Sh 20 million with the Safari Rally stands.

Meanwhile, McRae Kimathi who finished fifth in the 2019 Safari Rally candidate event told People Sport that the feeling was great and he hoped the Kenyan drivers would perform to the optimum. “We have no reason not to do well, especially since we are home and in familiar territory with great preparations. Since we joined the program,we have learnt a lot and got great exposure. The plan is to do well and hopefully not have issues with the cars. Personally, if I finish the race in a respectable place it will be a plus. Our sponsors and supporters have been a great inspiration and it is our belief that we will do them good in this year’s event.”