The World Rally Championship (WRC) is returning to Africa for the first time since 2002 with the Kenyan Safari Rally, to be held June 24-27.
The rally will take place in Naivasha, Nakuru County. The racetrack spans 320,19km.
According to Rose Wachuka, chief of staff at the Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage, the return of the Safari Rally is a "moment of pride" for Kenya.
"The rally is steeped in our country's heritage and so it is just incredible to see it coming together. It is incredible to see it unfolding and it is great to have drivers from across the world coming to Kenya for the first time, for the toughest rally on the planet," Rose told CTGN.
"It is actually more difficult now, but more interesting. The FIA rules have changed, the arena of motorsports has changed, so we are going to see a tougher rally with new rules, a great leadership team and a population that will probably experience the Rally for the first time," she added.
58 drivers have been confirmed for the event, including Sébastien Ogier from France, who has won the World Rally Drivers’ Championship seven times in the last eight seasons.
“The Safari of old has evolved to fit the modern-day WRC, but its character remains with challenging closed dirt roads, stunning picture-postcard scenery, and exotic wildlife. Competitors can expect rocky and rutted tracks and unpredictable weather which could transform dry and dusty trails into glutinous mud baths,” reads the WRC website.
The rules around in-person spectators are still to be confirmed by the WRC.
All 18 stages of the rally will be streamed live on WRC.com.