Safari Rally Kenya will retain its place on the World Rally Championship calendar in 2027, with the iconic African event set to follow Rally Sweden as the third round of the championship.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsThe 2027 WRC season, approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council, will run across five continents and feature 15 rounds as the championship prepares for the introduction of the new WRC27 technical regulations.Safari Rally Kenya is scheduled for Thursday, 18 to Sunday, 21 March 2027, maintaining its position among the championship’s established fixtures.Kenya handed boost in hosting WRC Safari Rally after 2026 contract expiryKenya will host the third round of the season after the traditional Rallye Monte-Carlo, set for January 21–24, and Rally Sweden, which will take place from February 18–21.President William Ruto also confirmed that Kenya will host the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally in 2027, putting to rest uncertainty over the event’s future on the global calendar.Ruto made the announcement on Thursday, saying the iconic rally will once again bring some of the world’s best drivers to the country.##NAJAVA_MECA_10010068##“Fellow citizens, the Safari Rally stays home. I am delighted to confirm that Kenya will host the WRC Safari Rally in 2027. Once again, the world's finest drivers will take on our plains, our valleys and the legendary roads of Naivasha,” Ruto said.“The Safari was born on Kenyan soil. It belongs on Kenyan soil. Every edition fills our hotels, energises our businesses and carries the beauty of our country to screens across the world.”The continued inclusion of Safari Rally represents another significant milestone for Kenya’s position on the global rallying calendar, with the event remaining one of the WRC’s most distinctive challenges because of its demanding gravel stages, wildlife setting and unpredictable conditions.The 2027 calendar combines several of the championship’s traditional events with major new destinations as the WRC looks to expand its global reach.##NAJAVA_MECA_10010054##One of the biggest additions is Rally US, scheduled for August 26–29, which will mark the championship’s first visit to the United States since 1988.The return to the US is expected to provide a major boost to the WRC’s international growth strategy, opening opportunities in one of the world’s largest automotive and motorsport markets.It will also provide a platform for manufacturers, particularly Ford, as well as broadcasters, commercial partners and American rally fans.New era for WRC as FIA announces historic investment agreementThe United Kingdom will also make its long-awaited return, with Rally Scotland scheduled for September 30–October 3. The Aberdeen-based event, developed with Motorsport UK and supported by the Scottish Government and local authorities, will mark the WRC’s first UK visit since 2019.Another major addition is Rally d’Italia, which will run from July 8–11. The event will bring the WRC to Rome, combining challenging asphalt stages in the Lazio region with the historic backdrop of the Italian capital.The calendar retains several of the championship’s traditional destinations. Following Kenya, the WRC will head to Croatia, the Canary Islands and Japan before the EKO Acropolis Rally Greece opens the European summer gravel run.##NAJAVA_MECA_10010034##Estonia and Finland will then provide consecutive high-speed gravel challenges, followed by Rally Italy, while Paraguay and Chile form a South American double-header before Rally Saudi Arabia closes the season from November 25–28.The 2027 season will also be significant because it will mark the introduction of the WRC27 technical regulations, which are designed to reduce costs, broaden participation and create new opportunities for manufacturers and independent constructors.WRC Promoter CEO Éric Boullier said the calendar represents the beginning of a new chapter for the championship.Former Kenyan navigator earns landmark role at weekend's World Rally Championship leg in Estonia“2027 represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the World Rally Championship, and this calendar reflects our ambition to build a stronger, more accessible and truly global championship,” Boullier said.He highlighted the return to the United States and United Kingdom, as well as the introduction of Rome, as key opportunities for manufacturers, commercial partners and fans.WRC Promoter COO Julien Vial said the calendar had been designed to combine the unique sporting challenges of rallying with events capable of engaging audiences worldwide.##NAJAVA_MECA_10010058##FIA President Mohammed Ben Sulayem also welcomed the calendar, saying the return of the United Kingdom and Italy, together with the US expansion, demonstrated the championship’s momentum.“With the introduction of the WRC27 technical regulations, a new promoter thanks to the deal of the century that will bring long-term investment and ambition to the championship, and a strong global calendar, the future of rallying is extremely bright,” Ben Sulayem said.
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