MOTORSPORT Reprieve as government steps in to fund ARC Equator Rally

Uncertainty had emerged when the Sikh Union withdrew, citing a lack of funds.

Lovers of the ARC Equator Rally can now breathe a sigh of relief after the government stepped in to fund the continental competition.

The Equator Rally is scheduled for March 18 and 19 in Voi. Initially, Kenya Motorsport Federation (KMSF) had opted to cancel the event over financial problems.

This prompted the Sikh Union to promise to run the event, but they too opted out due to a lack of funds.

The Principal Secretary for the State Department for Sports and the Arts, Johnathan Mueke, has promised that the government will provide the funding and ensure the competition runs as planned.

"We had a contractual agreement with the Sikh Union to organise the event, but they pulled out because they did not get the funding as quickly as they wanted, nevertheless, we have a good WRC Organising Committee and they have picked it up and they will run it," PS Mueke announced, as quoted by Capital News.

"The rally will go on, it has not been cancelled, and funds have been approved up to a tune of Ksh9 as per the budget presented to us by the WRC Organising Committee, I want to tell all the drivers nothing has been pulled off, we are just waiting for our team to wrap up the Magical Kenya Open and dive straight into it."

The newly-appointed WRC Safari Rally Organising Team will be tasked with ensuring the event is organized successfully after the government's intervention. The new WRC Safari Rally Organising Committee is headed by Carl Tundo.

The junior team in charge of setting up the route has always remained the same for both the Safari Rally and Equator Rally, respectively, despite the changes made by Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba.

It is led by Gurvir Bhabra as the course’s clerk and assisted by Anwar Sidi, Nazir Yaku, and George Mwangi.