NAIROBI, Kenya, March 30- A record 71 cars will feature in this weekend’s Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Safari Rally.Route clerk David Macharia told Capital Sport that the increased entries was due to the growth in popularity of motorsport.
“The youth has become much more involved in the sport for example we now have students from the University of Nairobi Engineering faculty who are now assisting,” said Macharia.
Carl Tundo is expected to defend his Safari title and faces stiff competition from perennial rivals Baldev Chager and Lee Rose who will be first off the ramp when the rally is flagged off at Kenyatta International Conference Centre (KICC).
Zimbabwean James Whyte, Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite and Peter Horsey also of Rwanda are some of the foreign drivers expected to tale part in one of the world’s toughest motorsport challenges.
Macharia said that the 1000km course will be less challenging this year due to the improved quality of the roads but the spectator stages at Jamhuri Park and Thika could be a problem due to the nature of the terrain.
“Jamhuri is made up of black cotton soil which is a problem during wet weather, said Macharia.
“Makuyu and Ndakaini have all weather roads so do the areas in Kajiado and Kipeto are also in good condition,” he added.
The rally will be flagged off on Good Friday at 1pm before heading to Jamhuri for the spectator stage.
The races will start at 2.30 pm with cars racing alongside each other and against the clock before heading back to KICC for an overnight rest.
Thika will host the second day’s action with the cars going through Mbombo, Makuyu, Kirwara and Kimandi Church.
On the final day, the rally will storm through Kipeto, Kajiado, Maili Tisa and Timbucto before revisiting some of the stages again.
The first car is expected back at KICC at 3.55 pm.
