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Kenyans call for return of Safari Rally to WRC series

Xinhua, March 24, 2016 Adjust font size:

Kenya' s rallying fraternity on Wednesday urged their government to lobby for the return of the Safari Rally to the World Rally Championship (WRC) series.

Raju Limbani, former rally driver said Kenya lost part of her heritage when the Federation Internationale l'Automobile (FIA) withdrew the Safari Rally from the WRC series in 2002.

"The Safari was much more than a sport, it was our way of life and we need it back," Limbani told Xinhua in an interview in Nairobi.

Safari' s fate as WRC event was sealed in 2002 when FIA spiked it of the WRC series after local authorities failed to pay its affiliation fees.

Safari' s problems are believed to have started around 1997 with the rise of anti-tobacco campaign. Until then, BAT' s sponsorship through its Marlboro brand was assured and adequate.

However, with the rise of the anti-tobacco campaign, BAT was forced to withdraw its sponsorship, leaving the event hanging in the balance.

FIA even asked the Kenya government to provide guarantees, mostly financial to cushion the event from rising financial risks.

Recently, Director General of Sports Kenya, Gordon Oluoch, asked the Kenya Motor Sports Foundation (KMSF) to furnish his office with details required to return the event to world status.

European car manufacturers pushed for shorter rally circuits and laid more emphasis on closed and paved roads.

"Rallying is adventure. The Safari not only provided this in great measure, but also the competitive edge in the series," Limbani said.

Limbani' s sentiments were echoed by another former rally driver, Rajesh Shah, who said FIA gave away the most competitive glamour of the WRC.

"Safari' s spectre was unique; it provided the real challenge to both driver and manufacturers," he commented.

The country requires approximately 1.5 million U.S. dollars to successfully run WRC event.

South Africa is Kenya' s main challenger for the struggle of WRC slot, being the only African country with the capacity to dole out resources to host a world rally championship with ease.

On the contrary, Kenya' s economy is much smaller and its corporate market is too small to dole out sponsorship in the region of 2 million U.S. dollars.

"One can only appreciate it when they realize that the money is not for sponsoring the rally, but for promoting tourism and the country' s global image," Shah said. Endit