NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 14 – In a sign that the plans for the 2023 WRC Safari Rally are gaining pace, the final list of officials and the teams that will work with them has been release.
In a change towards making the teams lean and efficient, the Safety Team under Norris Ongallo has been reshuffled to focus on the teams strength and capabilities. Norris has streamlined his team and has banked on training and experience.
Abbas Murbe takes over as Head of E-Safety; a new position after the vehicle manufacturer resolved to use hybrid cars and will be assisted by Alex Mwanzo who is an electric vehicle engineer specializing in Electric battery systems and lithium ion.
Abbas has a vast experience in safety after working as the head of safety in Exxon Mobil for many years. He has been part of the WRC Safari Rally since the Candidate event.
Norris will rely on 66 key officials with a diversity of specialties and positions to deliver a safe and spectacular WRC Safari Rally.
The teams are broken down into radio for Communications under Mark Hudson, Spectator management, TIV management, marshals and stage management.
To encourage knowledge transfer, Norris has flanked the experienced teams with new young and upcoming enthusiasts who are slowly growing and rising the ranks.
Dash Patel, who is the new Chief Rescue officer has received recognition from the FIA.
In a letter seen by Capital Sports Dash has been nominated as the Chief Rescue Officer and will be available to provide his services anywhere on the continent or the world when called upon.
Norris has been commended in the past for trying to achieve a 1/3 (One third) gender balance. Of the 66 officials, 18 are ladies; while 48 are men.
A rally is all about safety. One small mishap could easily lead to the cancellation of a stage or the event.
To ensure that every detail is looked into, Norris has selected his best. To give you an idea of how much work goes into getting each stage ready and ensure that everything is checked and rechecked, each stage has a stage safety Officer, a deputy stage safety officer, and two or three assistant stage safety officers.
In a slight change towards improving the safety of crews during WRC events, the FIA have opted to add the TIV (Technical Intervention Team) to the Medical team as they are to be embedded together.
In the event of an accident or incident, they are to be deployed together. The TIV team has been divided into two; the TIV will be fully equipped with the lifesaving safety equipment like the Jaws of life, cutters and spreaders, body jacks and E-Safety equipment while the ISU (In stage Units) will be responsible of ensuring that the rally routes are clear at all times. They will have E-Safety and firefighting equipment.
WRC LIVE BROADCAST
For this year’s event, the Shakedown, Kasarani, Elementaita and Hells Gate Power Stage will be live on WRC TV.
Stage length and Running Order
The stage lengths have changed in one or two areas. I order of how they will run; Shakedown will be 5.40km and will be run four (4) times, Kasarani will be 4.84km and will run twice (2 times.)
Loldia will be 19.17km and will run twice. One of the fastest stages is Geothermal and is 13.12km and will also be run twice.
The second longest stage of the event; Kedong better known for its Fesh Fesh is 30.62 km and will run twice.
Soysambu is 29.32km and will run twice, Elementaita is 15.08km and will also run twice. Sleeping Warrior, the longest and probably the most exciting stage especially in the wet (If it rains) is 31.04km.
This is the longest stage of the 2023 WRC Safari Rally. Malewa which is back after being replaced by Narasha last year is 8.33km and will be run twice.
Oserian will be 18.33km and will run twice while Hells Gate will run twice. The second loop being the Wolfe Powerstage and is 10.53km.
Shakedown will run on Wednesday; Kasarani on Thursday and Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong on Friday. Soysambu, Elementaita and Sleeping Warrior will run on Saturday and Malewa, Oserian and Hells Gate will run on Sunday.
