The World Rally Championship is set to return to Africa in the future but the rally could be in South Africa rather then Kenya.

The Kenya-based Safari Rally was taken off the 2003 calendar and replaced by a round in Turkey after failing to overcome mounting problems in recent years.

But World Rally chief David Richards insisted that a round would return to the continent.

"We will have a rally in Africa again I am sure in the near future," he said.

Organisers of the Safari Rally - the only African event - were hampered by a lack of funds and championship sponsor Inmarsat were forced to step in to allow the 2002 event to take place.

A third of the stages were held on closed roads in a bid to increase safety and reduce costs.

Richards also revealed on Friday that two more car manufacturers were set to join the WRC but he failed to elaborate on possible contenders.

The world championship has six teams - champions Peugeot, Citroen, Ford, Hyundai, Subaru and Skoda, with Mitsubishi taking a year out.

"I think one of them will be announced in Monte Carlo at the start of the season next week," said Richards.

"They are going to come in in 2006 but I don't know when the other one is coming in yet."