PuraVida Sports

The Naivasha tranquil has been rattled by guttural racing machines driven by the world’s top rally drivers making their way to Nakuru County for the recce and test of speed, skill and endurance as they compete for top honours at this weekend’s Word Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally.

The thrill-a-minute rallying continues to gain traction since Kenya was allowed to host the famous round of the WRC after a 19-year pause, with rally fanatics travelling from across the globe to catch a sight of this annual ritual.

Fans from the neighbouring, Uganda and Tanzania have made it habitual to religiously catch up with the event, flying miniature flags, with some of the competing drivers hailing from the native states.

This year, they have started making their way to Naivasha and are expected to travel to their favoured “hood” at Sleeping Warrior – a famous Safari spectator point for thousands of adoring fans.

With a cascading view, the spectators stage allow fans to keep track of the meandering drivers as they navigate through the tricky section of the wild route.

A number of wild animals “pay attention to the noisy machines” adding “flavour” to nature lovers during the “get -away weekend” that allow rally fans a commemorative get-away weekend.

Back to Naivasha, yes, convivial mood has gripped “Naivashans” with just hours to the globally acclaimed competition. The rally fever is evident with traffic jams building up especially in the evening.

Driving along the busy Kenyatta Avenue – Naivasha’s main thoroughfare – has been reduced to a snail’s pace, as branded vehicles from the WRC family have increased in numbers.

Traffic is building up with number of vehicles expected to triple as the WRC event gets underway on Thursday until Sunday.

Hoteliers are also recording increased bookings, but perhaps the largest contingent of people trooping to the sun baked town are small scale traders who always make a kill during the event.

The cast involve “nyama choma sellers” who strategically set up their joint in designated rally spectators point, doubling their prices to cash on the multitude of ready to spend fans.

Early on, experienced Service Park Manager Joe Muchiri had supervised the arrival of Toyota and Hyundai containers at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Naivasha which is the signature point of the rally.

All the containers for Toyota and Hyundai were already at the Service Park early with M-Sport Ford catching up. The three form the trio of WRC Rally One cars competing throughout the annual global circuit. 

The Service Park area at WRTI is traditionally the nerve centre of the rally and is the venue for the Rally Headquarters, Media Centre and the designated scrutineering area. 

After two days of reconnaissance on Monday and Tuesday, teams head to Sleeping Warrior “Shakedown” stage Wednesday to test their machines one final time.

On Thursday, the event proper begins with the Ceremonial Start at City Hall Way, Nairobi, a departure from the past when it was flagged off at the adjacent Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

The rally shifted its flag-off venue for better public access.

According to the Clerk of the Course George Mwangi, the KICC will this time round serve as the holding area for the cars, or ‘parc ferme’.

The rally culminates with the second run of Hell’s Gate speed test (10.53km) which will serve as the Power Stage on Sunday, March 23, from 14:15 onwards. 

Additional championship points will be available to the fastest five crews through the stage regardless of where they actually finished in the rall.

The Rally Village will be centred on Morendat Farm and will be a four-day hub that will be a key feature of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally. 

The village will offer spectators a chance to meet the drivers, see the cars up close, and watch the action on big screens.

The Safari this year has introduced two new stages at Mzabibu and Camp Moran expected to spice up the most exciting round of the World Rally Championship.