WRC Safari Rally Kenya: CEO Kimathi rallies Kenyans for a piece of WRC pie

WRC Safari Rally Kenya Chief Executive Officer and Kenya Motor Sports Federation (KMSF) Chairman Phineas Kimathi [photo courtesy]

The WRC Safari Rally Kenya will showcase the best the country can offer in terms of organization and as a tourist destination, the event’s CEO Phineas Kimathi has said.

Kimathi was speaking in Naivasha during a media review of the ARC Equator Rally, which acted as a test run for the WRC Safari Rally Kenya slated for June 24-27.

“With the rest of the world competing for the same space and only 13 events all over the globe, we need to execute our strategy with precision to probe that Kenya is worth a piece of the WRC pie,” Kimathi said.

“I can confirm that following the review by the WRC, we set the standards in terms of organisation during the ARC Equator Rally that have not been witnessed in other countries that host the WRC events and we should, therefore, be proud of it.”

The rally CEO also revealed that they are doing way better than they thought.

The Chairman of Confederation of African Countries in Motor Sport Surinder Thatthi [photo courtesy]

“Despite us not being in the WRC calendar since 2002, we have continued to host the best Kenya National Rally Championship in Africa. We actually rank as the number one country in the continent,” he added.

“When the WRC Safari Rally Kenya zooms off, we will be able to see the best of our country.

 “In terms of competition, our drivers such as Manvir Baryan (three times) and Jassie Chatte (twice) have won the Africa Rally Championship for the last five years.”

 Speaking of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya vision, Kimathi said they are working to create an atmosphere where Kenyans become part of the sport.

“We are looking to have merchandise that Kenyans can associate with. The Safari Rally is our heritage and hence we must reach out to our people,” Kimathi said.

The Chairman of Confederation of African Countries in Motor Sport Surinder Thatthi [photo courtesy]

The Chairman of Confederation of African Countries in Motor Sport, Surinder Thatthi said he was happy with the strides the organisers of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya had made as the event draws near.

“A lot of work has gone into reclaiming the WRC status and the challenge would be to make Safari Rally self-sustaining. I have confidence in the organisers’ ability to deliver the championship given the manner the ARC Equator Rally was organized,” Thatthi, who is also the FIA Vice-President in charge of Africa, said.

 “With the rest of the world competing for the same space and only 13 events all over the globe, we need to execute our strategy with precision to probe that Kenya is worth a piece of the WRC pie.”