Driven Crazy?
Kenya’s position in the World Rally Championship seems to be hanging in the balance as the country fights for a solution to retain its calendar slot into next motor racing season.
A motorsports-oriented media outlet, DirtFish had earlier reported a shift in the funding model for Kenya’s Safari Rally event.
Apparently the country’s President, William Ruto, who is probably not a fan of car rallies, made it clear that there would be no more public money for the Naivasha-based World Rally Championship (WRC) counter.
It is being ascertained that President William Ruto had ruled that it was the last Safari Rally which his government will be spending public money to promote.
From now henceforth the Safari Rally of Kenya is supposed to be fully funded and entirely supported by the private sector.
“The resources we have as a government will now be invested to promote sports in our schools and other spheres,” Ruto had reportedly claimed.
Updates from reliable sources in Kenya confirm that private funding is being sought, but it seems time is now running out for the Safari Rally.
However, observers believe that the Kenyan issue is the only thing holding up the announcement of next year’s WRC calendar.
The road sport director of Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Emilia Abel was quoted as saying that she remained supportive of the event, but added a deadline was in place.
“We want to see Kenya on the rally calendar,” Abel maintained.
“It is a historic and classic event for the World Rally Championships (WRC) and also an important rally particularly from the region’s perspective. Our focus now is on delivering from the Kenyan National Sporting Association (ASN) side.”
The World Rally Championship Promoter’s Chief Organizing Officer Julien Vial said they need to finalize the calendar very soon, and in order to do so the WRC needs clarity and certainty around the funding of every event.
“Kenya is one of the most unique and iconic rallies in the championship, but the necessary conditions have to be in place to secure its position on the calendar,” added Vial.
