The ARC Equator Rally is scheduled this weekend.

A 5km Qualifying Stage centered around the expansive Teita Sisal Estate in Mwatate will decide the road order for this weekend’s ARC Equator Rally Kenya. 

 The qualifying stage will definitely be a key feature of the event today afternoon prior to action proper on Saturday and Sunday.

As is the precedence, the top five fastest drivers in Friday's Qualifying Stage will make their way back to the Rally HQs in Voi to choose their preferred starting positions in chronological order from the quickest driver to the slowest.

 The ARC Qualifying concept: has always created a sense of anxiety prior to the race proper. The fastest of the five drivers will be the first one choose the start position.

 Scrutineering, reconnaissance and administrative checks  took place on Thursday. 

 This will be followed by the Ceremonial Start at the Voi Wildlife Lodge on Friday from 11:00am onwards and Free Practice from midday.

 Friday's Qualifying Stage (Teita 5.00 km) shall commence at 2:00pm followed by Shakedown which is programmed to commence from 3:00pm onwards.

 The midday Free Practice on Friday will offer drivers an opportunity to warm up their engines prior to the start of Leg 1 and Leg 2 on Saturday and Sunday respectively.

 Friday's program will also give the media an opportunity to capture pre-rally action well in time.

 Kenya has won the ARC title seven times between1981and2022. Trailblazing Shekhar Mehta was the first-ever winner in 1981, while the last Kenyan to win the title was Carl Tundo in 2021. Other Kenyan winners include three times champion Manvir Singh Baryan, Kisumu's Jassi Chathe and Don Smith.

 The ARC  is an international series under the auspices of World Governing Body, FIA.

ARC IN 2023

Meanwhile , South African William Louw hasa been appointed the ARC Co-Ordinator and will combine his new duties with his existing job as FIA Safety Delegate for the ARC

 Rallye International du Burundi becomes the newest event to join the ARC schedule after running as a successful candidate event in 2022

 What’s more, the FIA ARC Junior has been renamed FIA Junior ARC to spearhead consistency with the FIA World Rally Championship’s young driver category, the FIA Junior WRC Championship