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The IRC bandwagon heads to Africa as the third round of the season gets underway with the return of Safari Rally.

Based in the Kenyan capital Nairobi, the rally takes place this weekend and will also host the second round of the FIA African Rally Championship.

It last appeared on the IRC in 2007, when it formed the opening round of the series. In 2008 it obtained supporter event status and this season will herald the 57th running of the rally.

Jean-Pierre Nicolas, IRC motorsport development manager and 1978 Safari Rally winner said: "The Safari Rally has always been a real classic on the world rally calendar and I am sure that this year's challenge will once again provide competitors with an epic and memorable event."

IRC manufacturer points will be allocated on this round, but only drivers holding African competition licences will be awarded IRC driver points.

The rally begins with Friday's spectator stage in Nairobi before the crews head out to Nakuru and the Lake Elementaita region for the first leg.

The second leg is based close to Nairobi around the small town of Athi River while the finish ceremony is due to take place on Sunday.

The Safari Rally is well-known for its tough gravel roads which are punctuated with some watersplashes, which form a well-known highlight of the African classic.

The weather is expected to be hot and dry, but as in all equatorial climates, sudden storms have been known to turn stages into mudbaths.

Nicolas added: "For years the Safari was known as the world's toughest rally and it's easy to see why."

This year's entry list contains a high number of local Mitsubishis, with Kenyan Lee Rose leading the local entries in his Lancer Evo IX. Rose was well-placed on the most recent IRC event in Africa, the 2007 Safari Rally, until he was forced into retirement with a mechanical problem.

Other top drivers who originally took part in the 2007 Safari include Carl Tundo (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IX) and Asad Anwar (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII), who finished on the podium when the event was run in 2007 as part of the IRC.

London stockbroker John Lloyd, who has made a speciality out of African endurance events, will also compete in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII.

Watch the 2009 Intercontinental Rally Challenge season live on your PC via the Eurosport Player - click on the link under the picture to subscribe.

Or watch highlights on Eurosport television, all times UK:

Monday April 20-21, 23:30-00:00 (Eurosport)

Thursday April 23, 12:00-12:30 and 17:30-18:00 (Eurosport 2)

From Official Website