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Hybrid cars to debut at Safari Rally

Hybrid cars to debut at Safari Rally

By  Abdul Sidi

Contributor

What you need to know:

  • Karan Patel, who is aiming to win his fifth consecutive rally, is also one of the favorite drivers in the competition. He will be navigated by Tauseef Khan in their Ford Fiesta.

Hybrid cars will make their debut in the World Rally Championship Safari Rally since they were introduced in the WRC circuit last year.

According to the experts, the Hybrid model is able to produce nearly 600 BHP with the help of an electrical box fixed in the boot of the car.

 “Our Ford is operated with a 1600cc turbo charged engine. The electrical power is recharged every time the car breaks round a corner or at a hole or bump,” Richard Eastern, the engine expert of the M-Sport team told Nation Sport.

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M-Motorsports has entered four cars in the WRC Safari Rally which will kick off Thursday morning from the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The cars will be flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta before they head for the first competitive stage at Kasarani.

Twelve Hybrid cars have been entered into the championship. Spectators have been warned not to touch the cars when they have a red light is on.

It could be dangerous, because the car gets too hot to handle but if the colour is green, then there is no danger.

Some of the big works teams in the competition include Hyundai, Ford M-Sports and Toyota Gazoo Team.

Some of the leading FIA drivers in Kenya for the rally are Kalle Rovenpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota Yaris), Thierry Neuvilla/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai), Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota Yaris), Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai), Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota Yaris), Craig Breen/Paul Nagle (Ford), Sébastien Loeb/Isabelle Galmiche (Ford), Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson (Ford), Sébastien Ogier/Benjamin Veillas (Toyota Yaris) and Oliver Solberg/Elliott EdmonDson (Hyundai).

 Ogier stated that he was happy to return to defend the WRC Safari Rally title he won last year.

“Kenya is a beautiful place with people welcoming you from every corner of the country. The country is totally different to any of the other leading nations. I love it,” Ogier said in an interview.

Local drivers are also eager to show off their cars, though they are totally different from the Hybrid models.

The FIA Junior team of McRae Kimathi, Hamza Anwar, Maxine Wahome and Jeremy Wahome will drive Ford Fiestas and will also fly the Kenyan flag.

“The Ford Fiesta is operated by a 1300cc-turbo charged engine able to produce around 300BHP. We are waiting to see how our drivers will perform,”Adil Khan, the team’s chief mechanic told Nation Sport.

Former Finnish Rally Championship and British Rally Championship winner will also drive a Ford Fiesta.

“I arrived last week and eagerly worked with the drivers to make sure we have a smooth run. It is great to work again in the WRC Safari Rally with some of the top competitors,” Laukkanen said.

Kenya’s Karan Patel, navigated by Tauseef Khan, is also aiming for good fortune.