Kenyan drivers Carl Flash Tundo, Hamza Anwar, Jeremy Wahome and McRae Kimathi have said that they are confident ahead of the WRC Safari Rally. The competition will see the Kenyan drivers tackle some of Kenya’s most technical routes.
Wahome and Anwar, both 22, and Kimathi 26, are some of the youngest Kenyan drivers participating at the event as part of the FIA Rally Star program. The program is a global initiative that seeks to identify, train, and develop talented young drivers between 17-26 years.
Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo, a five-time winner of the Safari Rally and winner of this year’s Africa Rally Championship Equator Rally, was crowned the Intercontinental Rally Challenge (IRC) champion in 2009. This makes him the only Kenyan winner of an IRC round.
“I am up for the challenge and confident in the preparations we have made. I also believe our young drivers will showcase their talent and represent our country well,” said Carl Tundo.
Safaricom supported Team Kenya a Ksh. 21 million Safari Rally sponsorship. Ksh. 15 million will go towards supporting the 3 young Kenyan drivers selected as part of the FIA Rally Star program. Ksh. 2.5 million will go towards logistics and Ksh. 3.5 million to support Carl Tundo, who will be driving a Minti MotorsportsVW Polo R5, the same car with which he won the 2021 ARC Equator Rally.
“I appreciate the platform and support Safaricom has given us. We will make the most of the opportunity to do Kenya proud during this historic Safari Rally. This will be a learning experience as well as a challenge on how far we can go. We are ready to go and we hope for the best,” said Hamza Anwar.
58 rally drivers including 34 Kenyan racers are set to participate in this year’s event, which is ongoing until Sunday 27th June.