Safari Rally secures place on 2027 WRC calendar

Kenya’s iconic Safari Rally will roar back into the World Rally Championship in 2027 after the FIA World Motor Sport Council approved a landmark 15-round calendar.

The confirmation secures Kenya’s place among the world’s premier rallying destinations for another season, with the Safari Rally scheduled for March 18-21, 2027, as the third round of the championship. The event will follow Rallye Monte-Carlo in January and Rally Sweden in February.

The announcement is significant for Kenya, whose current hosting agreement was due to expire after the 2026 edition. The government had sought a five-year extension that would keep the Safari Rally on the WRC calendar through 2031, although the FIA announcement did not specify the duration of the newly granted hosting rights.

Kenya returned to the WRC in 2021 after nearly two decades away, reviving one of the most celebrated events in the championship’s history.

President William Ruto welcomed the decision, linking the rally to tourism, business and Kenya’s global image.

Source: The Standard Sports