2020 Safari Rally

Last updated
2020 Safari Rally
68. KCB Safari Rally Kenya
Part of the 2020 World Rally Championship
Kenya KCB Rally Naivasha 3.jpg
The return of Rally Kenya was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Host countryFlag of Kenya.svg  Kenya
Rally base Nairobi, Nairobi County
Held onScheduled for 16–19 July 2020
Start location Kasarani, Nairobi
Finish location Hell's Gate National Park, Nairobi
Stages18 (315.12 km; 195.81 miles) [1]
Stage surface Gravel
Transport distance709.98 km (441.16 miles)
Overall distance1,025.10 km (636.97 miles)
CancellationThe Rally was cancelled due to
COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2020 Safari Rally (also known as the KCB Safari Rally Kenya 2020) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was scheduled to be held over four days between 16 and 19 July 2020, [2] but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [3] It was set to mark the sixty-eighth running of Safari Rally and planned to be the seventh round of the 2020 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. The 2020 event was scheduled to be based in Nairobi in Nairobi County and consisted of eighteen special stages covering a total competitive distance of 315.12 km (195.81 mi). [1]

Contents

Colin McRae and Nicky Grist were the overall reigning rally winners, but they would not defend their titles as they were no longer active in the sport. [4] Ford World Rally Team, the team they drove for in 2002, when Safari Rally held a World Rally Championship event last time, were the defending manufacturers' winners. [4] However, they would not defend the rally either as they withdrew from the championship at the end of 2012. [5]

Background

Route

The itinerary was shortened around 500 km (310.7 mi). [6]

Itinerary

All dates and times were EAT (UTC+3).

DateTimeNo.Stage nameDistance
N/A13:01KWS Naivasha [ Shakedown ]5.30 km
Leg 1 136.08 km
N/A14:08SS1Super Special Kasarani4.80 km
08:20SS2Chui Lodge 113.34 km
09:16SS3Kedong 133.43 km
10:29SS4Oserian 118.87 km
13:34SS5Chui Lodge 213.34 km
14:30SS6Kedong 233.43 km
15:43SS7Oserian 218.87 km
Leg 2 131.94 km
N/A08:08SS8Elmentaita 114.64 km
09:08SS9Soysambu 120.33 km
10:22SS10Sleeping Warrior 131.00 km
14:08SS11Elmentaita 214.64 km
15:08SS12Soysambu 220.33 km
16:22SS13Sleeping Warrior 231.00 km
Leg 3 51.90 km
N/A07:55SS14Loldia 111.27 km
09:08SS15Hells Gate 110.39 km
10:44SS16Malewa8.58 km
11:27SS17Loldia 211.27 km
13:18SS18Hells Gate 2 [ Power Stage ]10.39 km
Source: [1]

Preparation and cancellation

The return of the Safari Rally was long pushed by the FIA president Jean Todt. [7] A candidate event was successfully run in 2019, with WRC safety delegate Michèle Mouton visited the rally. [8] On 27 September 2019, the rally was officially announced to be a part of the championship for the first time since 2002. [9] However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its return to the championship to 2021. [3]

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References

  1. 1 2 3 "Rally Guide 1" (PDF). safarirally.co.ke . Safari Rally. p. Appendix I. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. Herrero, Daniel (27 September 2019). "Australia drops off WRC calendar in 2020". speedcafe.com . Speedcafe . Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  3. 1 2 Thukral, Rachit (15 May 2020). "WRC News: Kenya's Safari Rally cancelled due to coronavirus". autosport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  4. 1 2 "50. Inmarsat Safari Rally 2002". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. O'Leary, Jamie (16 October 2012). "Ford to pull works backing from the WRC". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
  6. Evans, David (18 April 2019). "Safari Rally told to toughen up route ahead of planned WRC comeback". motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  7. "WRC signs agreement for 'modern-era' Safari Rally". motorsport.com . Motorsport Network. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. Evans, David (9 July 2020). "Candidate event proves Safari deserves 2020 return - WRC Promoter". motorsport.com . Motorsport Network . Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. "Safari back in 2020". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
Previous rally:
N/A
2020 FIA World Rally Championship Next rally:
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Previous rally:
2002 Safari Rally
2020 Safari RallyNext rally:
2021 Safari Rally