Why Hamza is super excited about debuting FIA Junior WRC

Rally youngster Hamza Anwar says he cannot wait to drive on snow and ice after he was selected to compete in all the five rounds of the FIA Junior WRC.

Hamza is set to compete inside Europe for the first time in his career and is one of Kenya’s latest promising young talents who made his WRC debut at Safari Rally Kenya in 2021, steering a Fiesta Rally3 to second in class.

The reigning FIA African Rally Championship (ARC) Junior Champion and third best at continental level last year, makes up the flurry of upcoming stars waiting to make their Junior WRC debuts this season, following the confirmation of the full list of 2023 entrants.

The one-make Ford Fiesta Rally3 series has experienced year-on-year growth of almost one-third, with nine budding stars set to contest this year’s five-round championship in identical cars run by M-Sport Poland.

Speaking in Nairobi, the son of Asad “Bubbling” Anwar (a former Nanyuki Rally winner) said he is overly excited for the opportunity and a future idea of being a professional rally driver in the same mould as his European based counterparts.

Hamza narrated: “We are on for all the five rounds. We have been granted a car already but we have to find sponsors to cater for some incidentals like travel, more so, when trying to find flights to smaller destinations. I will also cater for my recce car expenses”

He went on: “But all in all, it’s an incredible dream come true, I have never driven on snow and ice and I am looking forward to it. So, I really have to finish but at the same time take the fight to my opponents because the more stages won in class, the more additional points gained.”

Next month’s opening round at Rally Sweden (9 – 12 February) marks the 24-year-old’s first rally on snow.

As confirmed by WRC.com earlier this week, William Creighton starts the year as one of the frontrunning favourites with a handy two years of Junior WRC experience already under his belt. But Creighton isn’t the only driver making a return to the championship.

WRC fans may be unfamiliar with Laurent Pellier, but the Frenchman currently has a 100 percent winning record in the Junior WRC. Pellier, 27, made a one-off appearance at the 2016 Tour de Corse where he shocked many by winning the category.

 Diego Dominguez will be hoping to capitalise on the knowledge he gained whilst driving a Fiesta in last year’s WRC3 championship, while newcomers Raúl Hernández and Roberto Blach both hail from Spain.

This year’s Junior WRC calendar comprises five challenging rallies on a mixture of surfaces. It gets underway on the snow and ice of Rally Sweden before heading to Croatia – home to some blisteringly-quick asphalt roads.

Gruelling gravel tests in Italy, Estonia and Greece round out the season, with the bonus incentive of double points on offer at the final round.

-William Creighton (IRL)/Liam Regan (IRL)

-Laurent Pellier (FRA)/Marine Pelamourgues (FRA)

-Grégoire Munster (LUX)/Louis Louka (BEL)

-Eamonn Kelly (IRL)/Conor Mohan (IRL)

-Tom Rensonnet (BEL)/Loïc Dumont (BEL)

-Diego Dominguez (PRY)/Rogelio Peñate (ESP)

-Raúl Hernández (ESP)/Rodrigo Sanjuan (ESP)

-Roberto Blach (ESP)/Mauro Barreiro (ESP)

-Hamza Anwar (KEN)/Adnan Din (KEN)

 MORE ABOUT HAMZA ANWAR

Date of birth: 27. 9. 1998 (24 years)

Uncle:     Azar Anwar [driver]

Cousins: Shabaz Anwar [driver], Shazar Anwar [driver]

STATS

1. ARC Junior champion 2023

2. AFRC-3rd overall-2022

3. ARC3-3rd overall 2022

5. Retirements:     14 (48.3 %)

6. Super Rally:       3 (10.3 %)                

7. Total victories: 0 (0.0 %)

8. Class wins:         6 (20.7 %)

9. 2nd Overall KNRC RSC Machakos Rally

10. 5th overall ARC Equator Rally 2021