Loaded 2023 as Machakos rally gets KNRC season off

Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) will host the World Rally Championship Safari Rally for the third year since its return to the global series between 23 and 26 June in a busy Motorsport calendar.

Released on Friday 30 December, the KMSF projected calendar of events has the Motorsport annual awards kicking off the season on the weekend of 21 January, the same weekend the WRC series revs off in Monte-Carlo. 

Local action ignites on 28 January with the first edition of the nine-leg Kenya National Autocross championship hosted by the Simba Union Club (SUC). 

The Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) is set to rev off 4 February 2023 with a Rallye Sports Club (RSC)- hosted round in Machakos County.

Equator rally the second leg of the KNRC and the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) that begins in Rallye Bandama in Ivorg Coast, is slated for 18 and 19 March, a fortnight after the Jim Heather-Hayes Memorial Classic Rally. 

Rift Valley Motor and Sports Club will host the third leg of KNRC on 20 and 21 May, just a month to the WRC Safari that will double up as the fourth leg of the KNRC championship. 

The famed Rhino Ark- Rhino charge has been slated for the first weekend of June while the Alfa Romeo Owners Club Concours de Elegance will run between 23 and 24 September. A Safari Rally memorial drive has been slated for a week later. 

The East Africa Safari Classic Rally will be the last KMSF event of the year in December. 

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Crews will attempt to wrestle the overall KNRC title from Karan Patel who fought Jasmeet Chana to the last leg of the 2022 season for his maiden gong. 

The now RedBull driver is also expected to give the ARC title another go having lost it to Leroy Gomes in the final leg held in Zambia.