The third round of the FIA World Rally Championship, the iconic Safari Rally which runs from 28 – 31 March has attracted just 29 entries including five local teams entered for their National Rally Championship.
The 19-stage, 367.7km racing route will be tackled by nine Rally1 cars, three from each of the factory teams.
Toyota Gazoo Racing, winners of the last three Safaris will have a trio of their formidable GR Yaris Rally1s for title contender Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin, ably backed up by Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston. The TGR prodigal son and double WRC Champion Kalle Rovanpera and Jonne Haltunen return for their second event of their partial season.
Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe, the early championship leaders head the Hyundai Shell Mobis attack in their 130 N with Ott Tanak and Martin Jarveoja while the Swedish Rally winner Esapekka Lappi and Janne Ferm return in the third i30 N.
M-Sport Ford have their pair of young chargers Adrien Fourmaux and Alex Coria and Gregoire Munster and Louis Louka who will be joined by Greek privateer Jourdan Serderidis and co-driver Frédéric Miclotte.
WRC2 is thin on the ground, headed by a pair of Toksport-run Skoda Fabia RSs for Oliver Solberg and Gus Greensmith while Nicolas Ciamin has entered his Hyundai i20N WRC2.
None of the Toyota WRC2 teams are making the trip to Africa.
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