NAIROBI, Jan 26 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's Safari Rally will this year have a new route including starting point as organizers seek to meet safety condition for it to be considered for readmission to the prestigious World Rally Championships in 2020.
The rally, which has always started in Nairobi central business district at Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC), will move to the expansive Kasarani complex for the flag off, which will also feature a super special stage to allow fans view.
This year's competition will serve as a candidate event for the 2020 World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit and as such is bound to attract a lot of interest from international teams.
"These are some of the changes that we must implement before the Federation International Automobile (FIA) observers arrive," said Kenya Motor Sport Federation (KMSF) chairman Phineas Kimathi on Saturday in Nairobi.
"We are seeking a return to the 14-tier WRC. And we have to look at the security aspect of the event," Kimathi said.
The Safari rally has always been staged in April, but it had to be pushed to July, the open space in the FIA calendar to accommodate as many international drivers and car manufacturing teams as possible.
The safari rally served as part of the WRC from 1974 until 2002 before it was withdrawn for lack of government support, finance and safety.
This year's rally will be held in Nairobi, Naivasha and Nakuru areas in closed road sections to boost its safety to both the drivers and fans.
