2020 Safari Rally

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 baseNairobi, Nairobi County
Held onScheduled for 16–19 July 2020
Start locationKasarani, Nairobi
Finish locationHell's Gate National Park, Naivasha
Stages18 (315.12 km; 195.81 miles)[1]
Stage surfaceGravel
Transport distance709.98 km (441.16 miles)
Overall distance1,025.10 km (636.97 miles)
Statistics
CancellationRally cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic.

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]

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McRae and Nicky Grist were the overall reigning rally winners, but they would not defend their titles as they were no longer active in the sport.[4] Ford World Rally Team, the team they drove for in 2002, when Safari Rally held a World Rally Championship event last time, were the defending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

Route

The itinerary was shortened around 500 km (310.7 miles).[6]

Itinerary

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

See also: Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on motorsport

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

  1. ^ a b c "Rally Guide 1" (PDF). safarirally.co.ke. Safari Rally. p. Appendix I. Retrieved 6 April 2020.
  2. ^ Herrero, Daniel (27 September 2019). "Australia drops off WRC calendar in 2020". speedcafe.com. Speedcafe. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b "50. Inmarsat Safari Rally 2002". ewrc-results.com. Retrieved 16 May 2020.
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ "WRC signs agreement for 'modern-era' Safari Rally". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. 22 June 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  8. ^ Evans, David (9 July 2020). "Candidate event proves Safari deserves 2020 return - WRC Promoter". motorsport.com. Motorsport Network. Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  9. ^ "Safari back in 2020". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 27 September 2019. Retrieved 28 September 2019.
Previous rally:
N/A 		2020 FIA World Rally Championship Next rally:
N/A
Previous rally:
2002 Safari Rally 		2020 Safari Rally Next rally:
2021 Safari Rally