For the two Frenchmen, who have become "freelancers" for the WRC world championship, the African tracks are an opportunity to engage in a new duel this year after that of Monte-Carlo, won by Loeb, and another in Portugal, aborted by their respective dropouts.

Returning to the WRC calendar last year, the "Safari Rally of Kenya" was absent during their dominance over the past two decades.

But Ogier did not miss the opportunity to put him on his list in 2021 when he was playing his last full year, crowned by an 8th world title.

"Winning here is the icing on the cake and it would be nice to be able to win again now that we know the special stages better," said the 38-year-old Frenchman.

Sébastien Ogier on the roof of his car after his victory at the Safari Rally of Kenya on June 27, 2021 in Naivasha TONY KARUMBA AFP / Archives

For Loeb, 48 and absent last year, the memories go back to 2002, when Kenya was still in the world championship.

"I know the rally is very different compared to my last participation, it's more like other WRC rallies and it's easier. The difference is that I don't have stage experience that I never have. disputed so it will be more complicated".

Not playing for the championship, Loeb and Ogier will have no other goal than victory, even if Ford for the first and Toyota for the second are counting on them to bring back constructor points.

Rovanperä new lion king?

For Rovanperä (Toyota), the goal will be to consolidate their overall lead after five rounds out of thirteen.

The 21-year-old Finn has, thanks to three victories already this year, a mattress of 55 points over the Belgian Thierry Neuville and 58 over the Estonian Ott Tänak, both on Hyundai.

What to see coming but Rovanperä, which aims for its first world title, will have to open the road because of its leading position in the championship.

Finnish Kalle Rovanperä during the Sardinia rally on June 5, 2022 between Sassari and Argentiera in Italy Andreas SOLARO AFP / Archives

"I hope we won't waste too much time," said the man who finished 6th last year.

Toyota will also be able to count on the Japanese Takamoto Katsuta, 2nd behind Ogier in 2021 and current 5th in the championship, as well as the Welshman Elfyn Evans, who has been very unlucky since the start of the season.

Hyundai recovered after a difficult start to the season with Tänak's victory at the last Sardinia rally.

The 34-year-old Estonian, 2019 world champion, finished 3rd last year on the rough Kenyan tracks.

"The priority will be to preserve the car and finish. It is possible here to push at 100% but you have to be very careful not to damage the car", he underlines.

For Neuville, five times vice-world champion between 2013 and 2021, the priority is to close the gap with Rovanperä to keep the hope of finally conquering his first title.

Forced to retire in 2021 when he was in the lead, the 33-year-old Belgian intends to win his first victory of the season this year in Africa.

"Weather can be a big factor but I feel good on the stages and this year we are here for a revenge," he said.

Thierry Neuville during the Croatia Rally on April 22, 2022 in Leskovac, near Zagreb Damir SENCAR AFP / Archives

Ford is counting above all on Loeb but the Irishman Craig Breen, 2nd in the last rally in Sardinia and 4th in the championship ten points behind Tänak, may surprise.

The rally starts Thursday at 1:00 p.m. local (12:00 p.m. French time) with a 4.84 km special in the suburbs of Nairobi and ends Sunday after some 363 kilometers and 19 specials, the last of which, the Power Stage for additional points for the championship, s called "Hell's gate"...

© 2022 AFP