Kenya’s Skoda Fabia Evo Rally 2 speedster Samman Singh Vohra believes his second career WRC2 participation in Safari Rally Kenya (March 28-31 ) presents a good opportunity to keep building on his experience and confidence.
Samman burst into the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) limelight last season when he set the fastest stage times in selected events.
The former Kenyan autocross champion also won the 2023 Kajiado Rally and the 2024 season-opener in Eldoret.
The Kenyan youngster also contested in last year’s Mombasa Rally in North Coast, clearing the ground with all his opponents, only to retire on Day 1.
Samman made his Safari Rally debut last year, finishing 16th overall and sixth in the WRC2 category.
Winning the season-opener in Eldoret last month was a perfect start to Samman’s spirited preparations for the 2024 Safari.
Samman said: “Last month’s Eldoret Rally proved to be a great event for us. We hadn’t driven the Skoda since Guru Nanak Rally last year, so it was good to reconnect with the feeling of the car again while also putting it to the test after a major rebuild.”
Talking about his second career Safari entry, Samman continued: “As a team, we’re looking forward to the WRC Safari Rally and our plan remains the same; keep building on our experience, confidence and pace.”
“My greatest gratitude goes to my title sponsor, Sheffield Africa, and my brother, Saveer Vohra, for their unwavering support in my motorsport journey.”
Samman isn’t the only Kenyan speedster trying to make a name for himself in WR2.
His compatriots Carl Tundo, Aarkif Virani and Karan Patel will also carry the country’s flag in WRC2.
Round Three of this year’s FIA World Rally Championship in Naivasha has attracted a star-studded entry of 29 cars.
Kenyan organisers published the entry list for the season’s toughest event, which will start at Kenyatta Convention Centre (KICC) on March 28 and finish at Hell’s Gate, Naivasha, on March 31.
Reigning WRC manufacturers’ champion, Toyota Gazoo Racing, has entered Elfyn Evans, Takamoto Katsuta and reigning world champion, Kalle Rovanpera, in GR Yaris Rally1 cars. Frenchman Sebastian Ogier, who has won the Safari two times, will be the notable absentee.
Ogier and Rovanpera are running partial campaigns for the 2024 WRC.
Hyundai Motorsport’s three-strong i20N Rally1 entry features 2019 world champion Ott Tanak, series leader Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi, who was the victor in Sweden last month
His Rally Sweden victory, alongside co-driver and fellow Finn Janne Ferm, came six years, six months, and 19 days since he won in the WRC for the first time on Rally Finland in 2017.
M-Sport Ford has entered three Puma Rally1 marques for Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux, Gregoire Munster and Jourdan Serderidis of Greece.
Oliver Solberg, son of former WRC Champion Petter Solberg, will line up in a factory-supported Škoda Fabia RS
. The 72st Safari will for the first time have a new points scoring system approved by the World Motor Sport Council late last year.