The World Rally Championships, abbreviated as the WRC, are the highest level of global competition in the racing discipline of rallying. The FIA is the body responsible for organizing and governing them.
Drivers, co-drivers, and manufacturers compete in different championships, with a new team championship set to debut in 2021. The series now consists of 12 two- to three-day races that are run on a variety of surfaces, including gravel, asphalt, snow, and ice. Each rally is normally divided into 15–25 special stages, which are run on restricted roads against the clock.
The WRC has three categories, which include the Junior World Rally Championship, originally the WRC Academy, the World Rally Championship 2, and the World Rally Championship-3. The second and the third championships are both support championships that compete on the same events and stages as the WRC but with different rules. After the WRC drivers, the WRC-2, WRC-3, and junior entries race through the stages.
Safari Rally Racing in Kenya
For the first time since 2002, the WRC returns to Africa with the Kenyan Safari Rally, to be held on June 24-27. According to the WRC website, the old Safari has developed to meet the modern-day WRC, but its character has not changed, with tough closed dirt roads, picture-postcard beauty, and exotic fauna. Expect rough and rutted trails, as well as unexpected weather that could turn dry, dusty trails into sticky mudbaths.
“The old Safari has changed to meet the modern-day WRC, but its character has remained the same, with tough closed dirt roads, picture-postcard beauty, and exotic fauna.” The WRC website warns that competitors can expect rocky and rutted routes, as well as unpredictable weather that could turn dry and dusty trails into sticky mud baths.
The event will be held in Naivasha, in the county of Nakuru. The racetrack is 320,19 kilometers long. The reintroduction of the Safari Rally is a “moment of pride” for Kenya, according to Rose Wachuka, chief of staff at the Ministry of Sports, Culture, and Heritage.
“The rally is ingrained in our country’s history, so seeing it come together is fantastic. It’s thrilling to see everything come together, and it’s an honor to welcome drivers from all over the world to Kenya for the first time for the world’s toughest rally,” she told CTGN.
She added that the restrictions remained in place due to the pandemic, so as the FIA rules changed, the arena of motorsports changed. People will see a tougher rally with new rules, a great leadership team, and a population that will most likely be experiencing it for the first time. But, however, the experience would still be amazing.
Sébastien Ogier of France, who has won the World Rally Racers’ Championship seven times in the last eight seasons, is among the 58 drivers confirmed for the event.
In the meantime, the WRC has not yet communicated all the rules of the activity, as it’s yet to finalize the rules for in-person spectators. In other news, WRC.com will broadcast live coverage of all 18 stages of the rally.
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