Reigning African Rally Champion Karan Patel is confident that he is ready to compete with the big boys in the 2024 Safari Rally expected to rev off on March 28 to 31 in Naivasha.

The KCB Racing Team driver and his navigator Tauseef Khan will compete in a Skoda Fabia R5 under the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) category.

Speaking in Nairobi yesterday, Karan Patel said: “I can say the car is almost 100 percent ready for next week’s event. We have been burning the midnight oil to ensure we are ready to take on the grueling Safari Rally. I cannot wait to compete against the best drivers from around the world.”

Organizers have confirmed nineteen drivers who will take part in the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) category during the four-day event. Some notable names include Nikhil Sachania, Carl Tundo, Jasmeet Chana, Pauline Sheghu, and Aakif Virani among others.

In the main WRC Safari Rally category, the Toyota Gazoo racing team led by Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta are expected to headline the event. Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville are other big names who have confirmed their participation. However, reigning champion Sebastian Ogier will miss action.

The Safari Rally is returning to its traditional Easter weekend for the first time in 27 years, making the course more difficult for the drivers as it coincides with Naivasha’s rainy season.