Clerk of Course for the upcoming World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally George Mwangi has assured that organisers of the eagerly anticipated third round of the FIA series will strike a balance in coming up with the field for the four-day event. With a cap of 50 crews, and an increased interest from international drivers in WRC 2 and 3, additional entries for the Africa Rally Championship (ARC) and the national series KNRC that revs off in Naivasha on Thursday 20 to Sunday 23 March, as the event is a three-in-one, it is a delicate balancing act. ##NAJAVA_MECA_8666818##With the works teams confirmed and the top drivers, including reigning WRC champion Thierry Neuville already signed up for the season, entries for the Safari are expected to rise as Mwangi explains. “We expect an exiting event. We expect a high field of WRC 2 and 3 cars. I had an inquiry from Russia as there is a lot of excitement from drivers who have never been to the Safari before. This year’s event will have a very quality entry,” Mwangi promised. Asked whether that could disadvantage Kenyan drivers eyeing the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) entries as priority goes to FIA drivers and ARC entrants first, Mwangi was quick to clarify that Countdown begins…2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya pic.twitter.com/woFeXyZ8RC— Anwar Sidi🇰🇪 (@AnwarSidi) January 30, 2025 “Emphasis is on FIA categories but we do not anticipate a situation where entries go beyond the cap. We are anticipating more WRC 2 cars than previous years but that is not likely to be an unmanageable entry. Our KNRC drivers will get their slots,” Mwangi assured. Top Kenyan drivers are, however, expected to compete in the WRC 3 and ARC categories. Last year nine entered under Rally1 regulations, as were thirteen Rally2 crews in the WRC 2, including four Kenyan crews and one Rally3 crew in the WRC 3, Kenya’s Hamza Anwar. EXCLUSIVE: Tusker’s Ryan Ogam set to join Algerian giantsThe Rally2 crews included Carl Tundo and Tim Jessop, winner in the WRC Masters Cup contingent. Karan Patel and co-driver Tauseef Khan, Samman Vohra and his navigator Alfie Khan as well as Aakif Virani and navigator Zahir Shah. Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen won the rally, and their team, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, successfully defended their titles. Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson were the winners in the WRC-2 category. Anwar and Adnan Din were the winners in the WRC-3 category.
