A mid year date for the Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally and exclusion of Rallye Bandama in Cote D’Ivoire on the African series are among the highlights of the new 2024 African Rally Championship (ARC) calendar.
Approved by the FIA World Motor Sport Council at its gathering in Geneva, Switzerland, the 2024 season ARC schedule features six rounds on the continent between May and October.
With the only West African rally excluded on the calendar, experts have predicted the 2024 will be an East Africa and Central African.
Rallye Bandama, is one of the oldest and hardest event on the continent, part of the reasons why it will not feature on the African rally series, follows years of not having a good reception as an ARC.
The rally has often received only one entry, while most crews have struggled with logistic problems and attendance given the location of the event in West Africa.
In addition, the organizers have previously noted financial constraints in organizing the rally in Ivory Coast.
Meanwhile, this year, the ARC is close within countries that are still competitive in African motorsports.
The 2024 ARC will now consist of six series going through Uganda, Rwanda, Zambia, Tanzania, Burundi and Kenya.
The diverse range of rounds will also ensure the ARC’s spectacle and continental appeal is expected to remain firmly intact.
The Pearl if African Rally in Uganda will be the opening round between 10 to 12 May, 2024.
Rwanda Mountain Gorilla has been carefully scheduled to allow more crew entries between 28 to ARC Calendar
Last year, the event was the sixth, last edition on the ARC calendar.
After four intense rounds that wound through the picturesque routes in Bugesera District, Kenyan driver Karan Patel won the event last year.
Ascending through the ranks, Karan and Tauseef (navigator) secured victories in Rwanda, Kenya (Equator), Burundi, and Zambia.
The Kenyan pair opted to bypass the Bandama Rallye and Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally, requiring them to embark on a catch-up journey to grasp the coveted African title this year.
2024 ARC Calendar
10-12th May: Pearl of Africa Uganda Rally
28-30 June: Rwanda Rwanda Mountain Gorilla Rally
26–28 July: Zambia Zambia International Rally
23-25 August: Tanzania Rally of Tanzania
20-22 September: Burundi Rallye International du Burundi
