L. MathekaWRC Safari Rally 2022 dates set
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 16.10.21. | 11:25
The championship will be celebrating its 50th season with an expanded calendar that features 13 legs across four continents.
Save the dates! Safari Rally, the toughest and most famous Rally in the world that made a return to the World calendar this year, is scheduled for 23 to 26 June 2022 in Naivasha.
World governing body, FIA, on Friday 15 October 2021, released an enlarged calendar for the 2022 World Rally Championship (WRC) which will be the sport’s first hybrid-era season with 13 rounds.
Despite not being run on over 6000km of open-road as it was before its exit from the WRC stage, the Safari Rally maintained its reputation of punishing dirt roads, epic scenery, and wildlife as it claimed some frontline names.
Kenya will host the 6th round of @OfficialWRC @wrcsafarirally on 23-26 June 2022 @StateHouseKenya @moscakenya @AMB_A_Mohammed @JoeOkudo @phineaskimathi_ @NziokaWaita @KanzeDena pic.twitter.com/9W7Za6xp6r
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) October 16, 2021
The route, evolved to fit modern WRC, still presents competitors with long straight dusty roads where high speeds are the norm, contrasting with rocky rutted tracks that reduce cars to little more than walking pace.
Some rain on the the second day of action quickly transformed the dry trails into mudbaths in a matter of minutes that presented a new challenges for the top drivers who were racing in Kenya for the first time. Sebastien Ogier emerged victorious as the Safari made its return to the WRC.
Promotion of @magicalkenya by @wrcsafarirally during this month #WRC #finlandrally. The project was launched by @AMB_A_Mohammed @phineaskimathi_ in Europe to promote Kenya as a tourist destination, promote our coffee as well as the Greening Legacy Project. pic.twitter.com/5srvJqqkXT
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) October 4, 2021
With the iconic Safari Rally listed the season covers four continents, Europe, Africa, Asia and Australasia, as the pandemic eases and commercial rights owner WRC Promoter rebuilds towards its target of a 50-50 split between European and long-haul rounds.
Next year brings some of the biggest and most far-reaching changes in the sport’s history as the WRC enters a more sustainable age.
@AMB_A_Mohammed also toured the ‘Visit Kenya’ tent set up by the Safari Rally European office. These meetings are part of preparations for the 2022 rally. A significant contingent from Finland, including the legends are expected to tour the country during the rally. pic.twitter.com/IhkAPrCzsI
— Safari Rally Kenya (@wrcsafarirally) October 4, 2021
Exciting top-tier hybrid Rally1 cars will blend 100kW electric motors and the existing combustion engine, while a hydrocarbon-based fossil-free fuel will be 100 percent sustainable.
The calendar was approved at the FIA’s World Motor Sport Council in Paris and WRC Promoter managing director Jona Siebel said the mix of classic fixtures and newer events would provide a mouth-watering schedule in a landmark season.
“Next year will be a momentous and thrilling one for the FIA World Rally Championship as we welcome the new hybrid era Rally1 cars, part of a portfolio of regulations to drive the series towards a greener and more sustainable future,” he offered.
He continued, "Next year also marks the WRC’s 50th season and we have a calendar to match. We’re delighted to welcome back New Zealand, a rally which first appeared in 1977. Its gravel roads are a drivers’ delight and although our plans to return in 2020 were unfortunately derailed by Covid-19, it’s fantastic we can now push through with those.
The pandemic sadly brought the globe to its knees but as the world recovers so, too, does the WRC. We previously outlined our strategy for an equal spread of rallies between Europe and long-haul destinations and the 2022 calendar is a significant step towards that goal.”
The season kicks-off with January’s Rallye Monte-Carlo in the French Alps, which is based solely in Monaco for the first time since 2006.
