The 2020 Safari Rally (also known as the KCB Safari Rally Kenya 2020) was a motor racing event for rally cars that was scheduled to be held over four days between 16 and 19 July 2020,[2] but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[3] It was set to mark the sixty-eighth running of Safari Rally and planned to be the seventh round of the 2020 World Rally Championship, World Rally Championship-2 and World Rally Championship-3. The 2020 event was scheduled to be based in Nairobi in Nairobi County and consisted of eighteen special stages covering a total competitive distance of 315.12 km (195.81 mi).[1]
| 2020 Safari Rally 68. KCB Safari Rally Kenya | |
|---|---|
| Part of the 2020 World Rally Championship | |
 The return of Rally Kenya was delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. | |
| Host country |  Kenya |
| Rally base | Nairobi, Nairobi County |
| Held on | Scheduled for 16–19 July 2020 |
| Start location | Kasarani, Nairobi |
| Finish location | Hell's Gate National Park, Naivasha |
| Stages | 18 (315.12 km; 195.81 miles)[1] |
| Stage surface | Gravel |
| Transport distance | 709.98 km (441.16 miles) |
| Overall distance | 1,025.10 km (636.97 miles) |
| Statistics | |
| Cancellation | Rally cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic. |
Colin McRae and Nicky Grist were the overall reigning rally winners, but they would not defend their titles as they were no longer active in the sport.[4] Ford World Rally Team, the team they drove for in 2002, when Safari Rally held a World Rally Championship event last time, were the defending manufacturers' winners.[4] However, they would not defend the rally either as they withdrew from the championship at the end of 2012.[5]
Background edit
Route edit
The itinerary was shortened around 500 km (310.7 mi).[6]
Itinerary edit
All dates and times were EAT (UTC+3).
| Date | Time | No. | Stage name | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | 13:01 | — | KWS Naivasha [Shakedown] | 5.30 km |
| Leg 1 — 136.08 km | ||||
| — | 14:08 | SS1 | Super Special Kasarani | 4.80 km |
| 08:20 | SS2 | Chui Lodge 1 | 13.34 km | |
| 09:16 | SS3 | Kedong 1 | 33.43 km | |
| 10:29 | SS4 | Oserian 1 | 18.87 km | |
| 13:34 | SS5 | Chui Lodge 2 | 13.34 km | |
| 14:30 | SS6 | Kedong 2 | 33.43 km | |
| 15:43 | SS7 | Oserian 2 | 18.87 km | |
| Leg 2 — 131.94 km | ||||
| — | 08:08 | SS8 | Elmentaita 1 | 14.64 km |
| 09:08 | SS9 | Soysambu 1 | 20.33 km | |
| 10:22 | SS10 | Sleeping Warrior 1 | 31.00 km | |
| 14:08 | SS11 | Elmentaita 2 | 14.64 km | |
| 15:08 | SS12 | Soysambu 2 | 20.33 km | |
| 16:22 | SS13 | Sleeping Warrior 2 | 31.00 km | |
| Leg 3 — 51.90 km | ||||
| — | 07:55 | SS14 | Loldia 1 | 11.27 km |
| 09:08 | SS15 | Hells Gate 1 | 10.39 km | |
| 10:44 | SS16 | Malewa | 8.58 km | |
| 11:27 | SS17 | Loldia 2 | 11.27 km | |
| 13:18 | SS18 | Hells Gate 2 [Power Stage] | 10.39 km | |
| Source:[1] | ||||
Preparation and cancellation edit
The return of the Safari Rally was long pushed by the FIA president Jean Todt.[7] A candidate event was successfully run in 2019, with WRC safety delegate Michèle Mouton visited the rally.[8] On 27 September 2019, the rally was officially announced to be a part of the championship for the first time since 2002.[9] However, the COVID-19 pandemic delayed its return to the championship to 2021.[3]
References edit
- ^ a b c "Rally Guide 1" (PDF). safarirally.co.ke. Safari Rally. p. Appendix I. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
- ^ Herrero, Daniel (27 September 2019). "Australia drops off WRC calendar in 2020". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
- ^ a b Thukral, Rachit (15 May 2020). "WRC News: Kenya's Safari Rally cancelled due to coronavirus". autosport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ a b "50. Inmarsat Safari Rally 2002". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
- ^ O'Leary, Jamie (16 October 2012). "Ford to pull works backing from the WRC". Autosport.com. Haymarket Publications. Archived from the original on 18 October 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2012.
- ^ Evans, David (18 April 2019). "Safari Rally told to toughen up route ahead of planned WRC comeback". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "WRC signs agreement for 'modern-era' Safari Rally". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ Evans, David (9 July 2020). "Candidate event proves Safari deserves 2020 return - WRC Promoter". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
- ^ "Safari back in 2020". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
External links edit
- Official website (in English)
- 2020 Safari Rally at ewrc-results.com
- The official website of the World Rally Championship