The motorsports industry across the globe is increasingly embracing the prospects of hosting the pioneer Safari Rally event that features fully Electric Vehicles in the near future.

Salvador Caetano International Sales Manager Silvanus Wambua says the move would be part of sustainable efforts by the industry to adapt to adverse effects of climate change.

Wambua noted that rallying world is ready for EVs given hybrid vehicles already feature in this year’s World Rally Championships (WRC) calendar signifying the changing times.

“I am really excited to see what the rally space has for EVs. We could probably have a rally featuring EVs alone in the near future,” said Wambua.

He indicated that Hyundai will be leading the exodus to fully electric vehicles with hybrid vehicles set to feature in this year’s Safari Rally Championship in Naivasha this weekend.

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“There are hybrid vehicles already in the Safari Rally but now we are talking about fully electric vehicles; that is what we are looking forward to and Hyundai will definitely be part of this change,” Wambua stated.

Top drivers- five-time WRC runner-up Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Dani Sordo (Spain) and 2014 European Rally Champion Esappeka Lappi (Finland) - will represent Hyundai in this year’s Safari Rally.

“Based on what happened in Sardegna, we are expecting to have a repeat of that in the Safari Rally. Personally, I am rooting for Lappi because of the speeds he showed us in Italy. He was leading with very high speeds then stuff happened and Neuville took over and we were in the top two podium positions,” he narrated.

Silvanus Wambua. PHOTO/CAETANO KENYA

Caetano Kenya, which brings together a group of firms belonging to the Portuguese group Salvador Caetano, deals in Hyundai, Kia, Renault and Renault Trucks vehicle brands locally.

Hyundai, which is manufactured in South Korea, made its debut at the prestigious WRC in 2000 during the Rally of Sweden and have managed to bag two team titles (2019 and 2020).

Hyundai Motorsport took a spectacular 1-2 finish in this month’s Rally Italia Sardegna on June 1-4, round six of the 2023 FIA World Rally Championship, with the team of Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe bagging their first season victory beating Esapekka Lappi/Janne Ferm, who managed to secure their third successive podium result.


“Hyundai Motorsport has been a consistent podium finisher since the beginning of the season although we had yet to win. But that changed in beautiful fashion on Rally Italia Sardegna earlier this month thanks to Thierry and Martijn, who claimed their first victory of the campaign,” said Hyundai Motorsport Team Principal Cyril Abiteboul.

Caetano has unveiled a one-stop auto dealership hub offering retail and distribution of new Hyundai cars, aftersales services, as well as genuine spare parts and a full valet service in Kenya.

Hyundai has realized a steady growth in sales volumes in Kenya and recorded a 15 per cent rise in 2021, which jumped to 93 per cent in 2022 with its product lines including Hyundai Palisade, Santa Fe, Tucson, Staria as well as 100 per cent EVs such as the Kona and Ioniq5.