NAIROBI, July 2 (Xinhua) -- Kenya has been cleared to stage the Safari Rally as a candidate event for the World Rally Championships, the visiting International Automobile Federation (FIA) officials confirmed on Tuesday, saying that the motor rallying competition would be the final hurdle before its readmission to the WRC in 2020.
The Safari Rally will be held from June 5-7 in Nairobi and Naivasha, about 90 km northwest of Nairobi.
FIA delegates led by legendary Michelle Mouton will oversee various facets of the WRC Candidature event. Mouton is the Safety delegate and will be helped by FIA liaison Surinder Thatthi.
"FIA have a great desire to come back to Africa following FIA President Jean Todt's visit to the country last year. It is evident that FIA is sympathetic towards Kenya's bid on WRC status. The medical delegate is also very happy and has been working hand in hand with the local medical experts," said Thatthi on Tuesday.
The WRC events are run on snow, marram, tarmac and gravel roads. In April, Mouton said the route was perfect but that it needed improvement to make it tougher for drivers with safety in mind.
Thatthi said Mouton will give a comprehensive report to the FIA Safety Commission regarding safety aspect of the Safari after the conclusion of the three-day event.
The 2019 Safari Rally Kenya will be flagged off in Nairobi on Friday after which crews will embark on a 4.8km super special stage in the stadium vicinity.
Two sporting delegates, Timo Rautianen and Andrew Wheatly, who is also WRC manager, will report on the sporting aspect of the Safari.
The WRC promoter will also produce images of the country's picturesque landscape that will be beamed to an audience of about 350million viewers across the globe.
Sports Principal Secretary Kirimi Kaberia said preparations are complete and the government has given the event full support to have it readmitted in the WRC after it was dropped in 2002 for lack of financial support.
"The government has worked round the clock to ensure that the Safari Rally returns to the WRC, Funding and preparations are done. We have no challenges except for time. It has been long coming and we hope to deliver a successful event. We are confident that we will bring back the Safari to world status next year," said Kaberia.
Kenya is keen to use sports to promote its tourism sector. "Safari rally is part of our national priority and can't be discounted. We are ready and upbeat that Friday will be good," he added.
Safari Rally Project CEO Phineas Kimathi said fans can view the cars in Nairobi and Sysambu in Nakuru.
