Equator Rally Kenya, initially scheduled for October, will now be held four months earlier.
The Kenyan leg of the FIA African Rally Championship, previously used as a dry run for the WRC Safari Rally, will now take place from June 28-30.
According to FIA Road Sports Department coordinator, Fabian Coulon, Equator has swapped places with the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally.
Fabian explained that Rwanda had requested a change of date because the country's national elections coincided with the initial date of June.
Consequently, Rwanda's Gorilla Rally now moves from June to the October 25-27.
In an email to Commission members, Fabian noted: "The updated 2024 ARC calendar will be submitted for approval at the next meeting of the FIA World Motor Sport Council on February 28."
"Karan Patel and his partner Tauseef Khan are the reigning Africa Rally Champions after winning the series in a Ford Fiesta Rally 2 car.
On his way up, Karan won last year's Equator Rally in Voi, Zambia International Rally, the inaugural Burundi round, and Rwanda.
He finished second overall in Tanzania behind Ugandan Jas Mangat, who will be fighting alongside countryman Yasin Nasser to take the championship from Kenya.
Meanwhile, the Eldoret Rally, organized by Western Kenya Motor Club (WKMC), will kickstart the 2024 Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) season on February 17-18. Nanyuki Rally will return as the fourth event of the season on the weekend of June 15-16 after a one-year hiatus.
Last year’s Nanyuki Rally Group (NRG) round was run by Eldoret after the former requested to skip their event, citing logistical challenges.
The 2024 Kenyan Rally schedule is as follows:
Feb 17-18 Feb: KNRC1- Eldoret Rally (WKMC)
March 30-31: KNRC2-WRC Safari Rally
May 25-26: KNRC3-KRT Rally (KRT)
June 15-16: KNRC 4: Nanyuki Rally (NRG)
July 13-14: KNRC 5: Nankuru Rally (RVMSC)
Aug 10-11: KNRC 6: Mombasa Rally (MMC)
September 7-8: KNRC 7: KMSC Rally (KMSC)
June 28-30: KNRC 8: ARC Equator Rally Kenya (SUC)
Nov 30 -1 Dec 1: KNRC 9- Guru Nanak Rally (SUC)
Revised 2024 FIA/ARC Calendar
May 10-12: Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally
June 28-30: Equator Rally Kenya
July 26-28: Zambia International Rally
Aug 23-25: Rally of Tanzania
Sep 20-22: Rallye International du Burundi
October 25-27: Rwanda Mountain GorillaRally