Gus Greensmith and Kajetan Kajetanowicz will kick off their 2024 WRC2 campaigns on this month’s Safari Rally Kenya, both at the wheel Škoda Fabia RS Rally2s
Brit Greensmith finished as runner-up in the championship in 2023, and will seek to go one better in his Toksport-run machine this term, while reigning WRC2 Challenger-class champion Kajetanowicz has been the dominant force in Kenya in recent years, and returns in search of his third consecutive Safari victory.
Kajetan Kajetanowicz came very close to adding a WRC2 crown to his three ERC titles in 2022. Could this be his year?
Their names were revealed among a 29-car strong event entry list on Monday, which features nine Rally1 competitors comprising three Toyotas, three Hyundais and three M-Sport Fords.
As was announced last week, Kalle Rovanperä will return to Toyota’s third car in Kenya, while Esapekka Lappi is hoping for back-to-back World Rally Championship wins as he returns to the Hyundai line-up. Jourdan Serderidis is the addition to M-Sport’s roster, which brings the Puma Rally1 car count up to three for the first time this year.
Oliver Solberg, WRC2 winner on Rally Sweden, will make the second points-scoring start of his campaign on Safari Rally Kenya, as will Hyundai customer Nicolas Ciamin, while Charles Munster – younger brother of M-Sport driver Grégoire Munster – will also drive an i20 N on the event.
Oliver Solberg is tied for the lead of WRC2 after Sweden and has an opportunity to make it his own in Kenya
A host of local drivers will take on the WRC regulars, with Kenya’s Karan Patel and Carl Tundo both returning following their highly competitive outings last year.
Safari Rally Kenya (March 28-31) moves back to its traditional Spring date on the WRC calendar this season, just in time for the Kenyan rainy season. Weather could therefore play a big part in deciding the winner of this year’s event; a factor that might play into the hands of the experienced local crews.
