Connecting you to Kenyan rallying
Safari Rally 2015
Experience the rallies from inside Ian Duncan’s new Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X, as sponsors Liquid Telecom help drive a new era of motor sport through world-class technology and connectivity.
Ian Duncan is a rally legend. One of Kenya's most successful rally drivers and all round motorsport stars, having won the Kenyan Rally Championship six times and Rhino Charge three times. He’s also the reining Classic Safari champion, has won Safari rally in the World Rally Championship and also boasts successes in Rally Raid, Enduro and Motocross.
His motorsport CV already stretches across 35 outstanding years and there’s no stopping him... he’s back for 2015 driving a new car and a new era for motorsports, courtesy of Liquid Telecom.
Liquid Telecom is the leading independent data, voice and IP provider in eastern, central and southern Africa. They supply fibre optic, satellite and international carrier services to Africa’s largest mobile network operators, ISPs and businesses of all sizes. They’ve built Africa’s largest fibre network, stretching over 18,000kms across borders, connecting African countries to each other and the rest of the world with super-fast fibre broadband. Put simply, they connect people.
The sponsorship of Ian Duncan is the first step in Liquid Telecom’s commitment to enhancing the total motor sport experience in Kenya and Africa by adding value and quality for the organisers, competitors, spectators and enthusiasts, through the use of technology and connectivity.
By providing connectivity at the events and access to unique rally content, including live in-car Go-Pro footage from each rally and behind the scenes footage, Liquid Telecom will help to connect more people to this difficult to access sport and improve the experience for everyone involved.
“We aim to advance this exciting sport with technology and connectivity - to produce a more immersive rally experience for everyone involved.”
Ben Roberts, CEO, Liquid Telecom Kenya
Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC)
The Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) series encompasses 8 rallies per year that have so far taken place all over the country in areas such as in Embu, Eldoret, Eldama Ravine, Guru Nanak, Iten, Kabarnet, Kiambu, Kisumu, Kajiado, Kitengela, Machakos, Meru, Mombasa, Nairobi, Naivasha, Nakuru, Nanyuki, Nyeri and Voi.
Running from February to October, the series will take you on an exciting ride through some of the most challenging and breathtaking terrain in Kenya. Expect stunning backdrops, electrifying competition and exhilarating experiences; whether you're at the event or watching online, right here.
One of the most famous rallies in the series, and often referred to as one of the toughest in the world, Safari Rally, is now in its 63rd year. This Easter holidays will see competitors crossing Nairobi, Machakos and Meru counties over three grueling days of intense rallying.
Starting at Safari Rally, we’ll be getting behind the scenes and filming from inside Ian Duncan’s car to bring you closer to every race. Content will be added to the site from each race – so check back for updates and an insight into the rallying skills of Ian Duncan like never seen before!
The Safari Classic was first run in 2003, launched to serve the rapidly growing classic car fraternity and bringing a return to a more traditional form of rallying. As WRC and most regional and national events have moved to formats whereby stages are far shorter than historically and overall events less challenging (easier terrain, cessation of night stages etc) many enthusiasts felt that the spirit of rallying was being lost. The Safari Classic replicates the format of the original East African Safari Rally, one of the two premium events in the history of rallying, with both long individual stages and a long total duration of over a week covering typically about 5,000 km across Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.
The event is for 2wd historic rally cars built up to the end of 1978 and no form of recce is allowed with the route being secret and road books issued each night for the following day’s sections. Over the six events that have run to date, only three drivers have won, each having taken two victories – Rob Collinge, Bjorn Waldegard and Ian Duncan.
Aside from winning the Safari when it was a WRC round in 1994, Ian won the Classic in 2009 in his Ford Mustang and in 2013 in his V8 Ford Capri Perana. For 2015 his Capri was deemed illegal in somewhat controversial circumstances and it has now been rebuilt to European competition specification with an RS3100 V6 engine.
This year’s edition starts in Mombasa on November 19th and loops along the Indian Ocean coast before heading south to Amboseli National Park and then into Tanzania. Eventually the teams will return to Mombasa for the finish on the 27th November. Extremely tough conditions are expected on the challenging route as El Nino is forecast to bring very heavy rains making it challenging for all competitors.
Liquid Telecom are proud to have extended their relationship with Ian to be his title sponsor in this prestigious event and wish Kenya’s greatest rally driver the greatest possible success in rallying’s tioughest event.
Rhino Charge
Rhino Charge is one of the toughest Off Road events on the continent, which has gained international acclaim from all over the world. Entrants from all over the world descend on Nairobi for this super-charged annual event, creating “Rhino Charge Fever” in the Capital.
Organized to raise funds for the Rhino Ark Charitable Trust, it helps to support conservation in Kenya. Each competitor must raise the required sponsorship money to enter. They’re required to visit 13 points scattered over 100 square kms of rough terrain, all within a 10 hour period. The winner is the competitor who visits the most controls in the shortest distance.
Competitors get a map, co-ordinates of the 13 Control Points and their Start position. They must plot the Control Points on the map, decide their route… and chaaarge!
Rhino Charge 2015 is penned for 30/31 May – we’ll be getting you closer to the action with in-car footage!
