Jean Todt: “The Safari represents everything that makes up the DNA of our sport”

Jean Todt knows the Safari Rally well having competed in it as a co-driver, but also as a team boss, during the time of Peugeot Talbot Sport and the 205 Turbo 16.

The current president of the International Automobile Federation was present in Kenya earlier in the week, to inaugurate the premises of the WRC Safari Rally Project, which aims to bring the African event back to the WRC calendar by 2020.

« The WRC in its modern form needs to broaden its horizons and become more global and I would like to see us return to Kenya for a rally difficult and demanding, underlines the Frenchman. As the second largest continent in the world, Africa is very important to the FIA ​​and the Safari Rally represents everything that makes up the DNA of our sport »

Absent from the world rally concert since 2002, and a last victory for Colin McRae (Ford), the Safari Rally will have to meet the current criteria of the world championship before being able to re-enter the calendar, but also set an example in terms of road safety , one of Jean Todt's battle lines in his presidency.

In any case, the government seems more than favorable to the project, aid of $2,5 million, as explained by the Kenyan media Capital FM, having been allocated.