WRC Safari Rally Kenya’s “Wolf Power Stage” will for the second year running revisit the picturesque Hell’s Gate National Park terrain on June 26.
The initial run (SS16) will feature as a normal stage from 09:08hrs onwards.
But the repeat run (SS19) at 14:18hrs will count as the event’s Wolf Power Stage where intense action will be the order of the day.
Unlike a normal special stage, which times to tenths of a second, the timing of the Power Stage is to the thousandth of a second.
Hell’s Gate will sign off the 2022 WRC Safari Rally on a high with the finish line designated alongside the picturesque Fisher’s Tower.
--What’s a Power Stage?--
A Power Stage is a special stage that usually runs as the final stage of a rally in the World Rally Championship. Additional championship points are available to the fastest five crews through the stage regardless of where they actually finished in the rally.
--Action Proper--
Following Ndulele Conservancy Shakedown and Kasarani Super Special Stage (SSS) on June 22 and 23 respectively, action proper in the KCB Bank Kenya and Toyota Kenya sponsored WRC fixture begins on Friday June 24 with SS2/5 Loldia 1 & 2, a 19.17kms stage that will be run at 08:00hrs and 1314hrs respectively.
SS3/6 Geothermal is an 11.68kms stage that will be run at 0918hrs and repeated at 1432hrs.
The dusty SS4/7 Kedong stage is regarded as Safari's toughest stage. It's a 31.25kms stretch programmed for 10:11hrs and 1525hrs.
On Saturday June 25 action will restart with SS8/11 Soysambu (29.32kms) at 08:11hrs with its repeat run set for 14:14hrs.
This stage is now almost 12 km longer than it was in 2021 and will take in some interesting features to include a compact spectator area near the start.
The liaison section from the Service Park to Soysambu has been changed this year to avoid traffic snarl ups as witnessed in 2021.
SS9/12 Elmenteita (15.08kms) will start at 09:08hrs and be repeated at 15:08hrs.
With its naturally beautiful Lake Elmenteita as a unique backdrop, SS9/12 will serve as the Live TV Stage on Saturday.
The 15km stage will be run in an opposite direction to 2021 - to accommodate the need to allow Live TV crews the opportunity to capture theaction in all its picturesque glory.
--A Sleeping Maasai Warrior--
SS10/13 is the iconic Sleeping Warrior (23.05kms) scheduled for 1006hrs and 1606hrs in the shadow of a hill that resembles a sleeping Maasai warrior.
The Stage will start after a Remote Refuel zone adjacent to the Elmenteita crossroads, to wind its way through the challenging rockery.
The last day of the event on June 26 will start with SS14/17 Oserian (17.81kms) stage from 07:05hrs;with its repeat run programmed for 11:29hrs within the exclusive Oseregoni Sanctuary, SS15/18 Narasha (21.47kms) will be run at 08:12hrs and repeated at 12:36hrs.
