The flagship worldwide rallying series, the World Rally Championship (WRC), features some of the most intense and difficult motorsport competition over a variety of global terrains. The World Rally Championship (WRC) was founded in 1973 and draws elite drivers, teams, and manufacturers who compete in an exhilarating race of endurance, talent, and speed to win.
Levels & Classes
1. WRC – This is the top class. Competing cars are purposefully built specifically for the rally. They have turbocharged motors with advanced aerodynamic and electric systems.
2. WRC 2- This is the supporting tier featuring production-based but upgraded vehicles. It is a stepping stone to the WRC.
3. WRC 3 – A lower category mainly aimed at privately owned teams that tend to have even fewer technological upgrades than WRC 2.
Restrictions & Regulations
1. Technical standards:
To maintain competition equality and advance safety, the WRC enforces stringent technical standards. To preserve fair competition while advancing automobile innovation, these rules regulate things like engine specs, chassis design, aerodynamics, and safety features.
2. Homologation:
WRC-affiliated manufacturers are subject to homologation regulations that compel them to produce a specific quantity of road-going rally cars. Since rally vehicles are adapted from their commercial counterparts, this ensures that the competition will always be intimately linked to the automobile industry.
A typical rally day involves drivers battling one at a time to complete several timed sections known as stages in the shortest possible time. Timing is done to a 1/10th of a second and drivers drive booth to and from the stages intending to achieve the shortest cumulative time. On Saturday evening points are awarded to the top 10 teams. These points, however, can not be banked unless a team successfully completes the Sunday stages. Sunday points are given only to the top 7 and an additional set of points are awarded to the top 5 teams at the ending “wolf power stage”.
Timed service happens 3 times a day at the WRC service park. Teams get only 15 minutes in the morning, 30 minutes at lunch time, and 45 minutes during which they are allowed to work on their battered cars. If anything arises on the road, the driver and co-driver must be able to repair the cars themselves, or else they must retire.
The WRC in Kenya
The Safari Rally is the Kenyan stage of the FIA Motorsport Rally World Rally Championship. This event was first held in 1953 to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth 2.
It officially joined the WRC circuit in 1973, running until 2002 and returning in 2021. It is widely accepted to be one of the toughest stages of the rally due to its variety of roads and terrain from powdered sand, fast farm roads, and thick mud when it rains.
In 2024, the Safari Rally will be held from the 28th to the 31st of March. It will have a total of 19 special stages. Starting with the super special stage at Kasarani in Nairobi at 2PM on the 28th before proceeding to Naivasha in Nakuru for the other 18 stages ending with a podium ceremony on the 31st at a quarter past 3 pm at WSTI Naivasha.
Kenyan culture around the WRC Safari Rally
The Safari Rally is revered amongst Kenyans. It is expected that citizens from all over the country of all ages and statuses’ will flock to Naivasha for the 3-day extravaganza. Participating teams have often commented on the warm reception and the excitement they receive from the Kenyan crowd.
In general, we Kenyans also love a good excuse to party. Therefore, a good percentage of rally-goers are there for the fun and hype.
General Dos and Don’ts include:
- Book accommodation early. By two months in advance, the majority of the decent accommodation options have been filled. Naivasha will be like Bethlehem at the time of Jesus’ birth and only one or two campsites may still have space at this time.
- Observe time. Be keen on the stage timings and when the access roads shall be closed off to the public. Plan yourself accordingly and arrive early to the spectator stages.
- Follow the marshalls and security measures. Do not go past designated boundaries or enter areas without access.
- Don’t drink and drive. Wherever revelers and cars are, accidents follow. Do not be a part of the problem.
- Watch over your belongings. With an influx of people, there shall be a few bad elements in the crowd. Be vigilant and have a great time.
See You There!!
