McRae Kimathi, co-driven by Mwangi Kioni, is optimistic about his chances in the WRC EKO Acropolis Rally, which kicks off Thursday night with a 1.95-kilometer Super Special Stage in the in-field of the 60,000 spectators Athens Olympic Stadium.
The action begins at 8:01 p.m. local time, which is the same time zone as Kenya, in the warm Mediterranean climate. The competition will consist of two side-by-side races, similar to what Kenyans are accustomed to seeing at the Kasarani Super Special Stage.
But this will be a tight, up close and candid, thrilling engagement.
This is the highlight of the four-day competition which has attracted 70 competitors who will then move to Loutraki in Peloponnese Peninsula for the rally proper, a 108-kilometre, day-long test without services before an overnight halt at the Lamas Service Park, some 214 kilometres west of the capital, the base of the 303-kilometre-long rally until Sunday.
The Acropolis, also known as the Rally of Gods because of the historical ancient sites of this region, is the final round for the seven drivers competing in the FIA Rally Star Programme.
They include Kimathi, currently sixth in a schedule of five WRC races after Sweden, Croatia, Portugal, Estonia and now Greece, which will determine the winner of the 2022 Junior World Rally Championship crown.
All of the drivers are competing in the same model of Ford Fiesta Rally 3 prepared and managed by M-Sport Poland. Greek roads are rough and twisty, and the temperate weather is what Kimathi is used to back home, as opposed to the freezing ice of his first WRC event in Sweden last February.
On paper, the top three are likely to be defending champion Sami Pajari of Finland, Ulsterman Jon Armstrong (85), and Estonian Robert Virves (84).
But Greece is different, and Kimathi has a chance to move up the ladder as long as he maintains his tempo and posts faster stage times than his opponents.
The International (FIA) is offering double points at the end of this rally plus an extra point of every stage won.
The other motivating factor is that the 2022 junior category champion will land a four WRC rallies drive in next year’s season aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally 2 car in the second highest tier of competition behind the Rally 1 category of FIA Priority One drivers.
The champion will also test the car serviced by M-Sport Poland before each round and receive a full tyre package from Pirelli.
Kimathi was confident of a fruitful weekend before recce and later scrutineering yesterday, saying he remains focused with the assignment at hand.
His motivation is that, unlike at the start of the season, he is now well acquainted with the demands of the WRC.
Lauri Joona, with 79 points and a win in Croatia, is not far behind, demonstrating his mastery of rough terrain, an experience that will come in handy in the mountainous stages here this weekend.
Kimathi will be chasing Irishman William Creighton (38) for fifth or better position with 30 points.
