Safari Rally
{{short description|Annual automobile rally in Kenya}}
{{For|the 1978 action film|Safari Rally (film)}}
{{Infobox recurring event
| name = Safari Rally
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| logo =
| logo_caption =
| image = File:Kenya_KCB_Rally_Naivasha_3.jpg
| caption =
| status = Active
| genre = Motor Sport event
| date = June
| frequency = Annual
| venue =
| location = Great Rift Valley
| coordinates =
| country = Kenya
| years_active =
| first = 1953
| founder_name =
| last =
| participants =
| attendance =
| area =
| website = https://www.safarirally.ke/
| footnotes =
}}
The Safari Rally is an automobile rally held in Kenya. It was first held in 1953 as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. The event was part of the World Rally Championship from 1973 until 2002, before returning in 2021. It is historically regarded as one of the toughest events in the World Rally Championship, and one of the most popular rallies in Africa. From 2003, a historical event (East African Safari Rally) has been held biennially.
History
It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika,The name Tanzania did not exist in 1953 as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II. In 1960 it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Safari Rally. From 1973, the rally was part of the World Rally Championship.{{Cite book |last1=Davenport |first1=John |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/76627693 |title=Safari Rally 50 years of the toughest rally in the world |last2=Deimel |first2=Helmut |publisher=Harms Verlag |others=Reinhard Klein, Wilfried Müller, McKlein Photography Köln |year=2003 |isbn=978-3-927458-08-6 |edition= |location=Köln |oclc=76627693}}
The {{Convert|5000|km|mi}} route featured a variety of roads and terrain - from fesh fesh (very fine powdered sand), fast farm tracks, and very rough roads up or down the Great Rift Valley. In heavy rain, roads would often turn into thick, deep mud.{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=David |date=17 June 2022 |title=Safari Rally Kenya ready to test the WRC's greatest like no other |url=https://www.redbull.com/gb-en/wrc-safari-rally-kenya-event-preview |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=Red Bull |language=en}} The event was run on open roads, with all of the route being competitive mileage.{{cite web |title=juwra.com/About timing |url=http://www.juwra.com/about_timing.html |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20080508021110/http://www.juwra.com/about_timing.html |archivedate=8 May 2008 |accessdate=2008-05-15 |work=Jonkka's World Rally Archive}} The driver with the lowest accumulation of penalty time between time controls was declared the winner.
The rally was historically one of the fastest events in the world championship with average speeds over {{Convert|100|km/h|mph}}.{{Cite web |title=Statistics - Event average speed |url=https://www.juwra.com/stats_event_average_speeds.html |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=www.juwra.com}} However, the roughness of the terrain and the long stages meant that the winner was often the most reliable or the fastest cautious driver.{{Cite web |last=Rhodes |first=Cynan |date=25 February 1999 |title=Safari Rally Kenya: Introduction |url=https://au.motorsport.com/wrc/news/safari-rally-kenya-introduction/1738948/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=au.motorsport.com |language=en}} In later years, top rally teams would use helicopters to fly ahead of the cars to warn of animals or other vehicles on the rally route.Image:EAS1973.jpgTeams built specially strengthened cars for the event, with bullbars, snorkels (for river crossings) and bright lights to warn wildlife.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-14 |title=What would a modern Safari Rally car look like? |url=https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/what-would-a-modern-safari-rally-car-look-like/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=DirtFish |language=en-US}} In the 1990s, Toyota Team Europe had a full-time test team in Kenya, preparing and testing the rally cars for the event.{{Cite web |date=2021-06-22 |title=How tape cassettes sent Sainz to a dominant Safari win |url=https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/how-tape-cassettes-sent-sainz-to-a-dominant-safari-win/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=DirtFish |language=en-US |quote=Grist had been in Kenya for weeks conducting much of TTE’s testing and recce preparation for the Safari. Ericsson had headed to Mombasa for a holiday before the rally, leaving Grist in Toyota’s team hotel in Nairobi. “Mikael and I had done the recce,” said Grist. “In fact, we’d been around the entire 5000-kilometre route four times.}} During the rally, repairs had to be regularly made to the cars, which added to the elapsed time of the competitors.{{Cite web |date=2020-07-18 |title=How Mäkinen ignored common sense to conquer the Safari |url=https://dirtfish.com/rally/wrc/how-makinen-ignored-common-sense-to-conquer-the-safari/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=DirtFish |language=en-US}} In later years, tyre mousse - allowing tyres to maintain functionality despite a puncture - allowed drivers to tackle the event flat out, despite the length of the event.
In 1996, the event adopted the special stage format, and servicing cars from helicopters was prohibited. From that edition until 2002, it featured around 2000 km of timed stages, with stages well over {{convert|60|km|mi}} long, unlike most rallies which had under {{convert|500|km|mi}} of total timed distance. This meant that the winner's total time penalty was above 12 hours in 1996 and decreased to two seconds shy of 8 hours in 2002. Despite this, the rally continued to be run on open roads.{{Cite web |last=Kihaki |first=Mike |date=February 2022 |title=East Africa Safari Classic, a rich history of rallying |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/motorsport/article/2001436893/east-africa-safari-classic-a-rich-history-of-rallying |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=The Standard |language=en}} The event was excluded from the WRC calendar due to a lack of finance and organisation in 2003.
= Modern event =
From the 2003 edition, the event became part of the African Rally Championship. The event was modernised, with shorter stages and running on closed roads - like other events in the World Championship.{{Cite web |last=Howard |first=Tom |date=21 June 2022 |title=WRC Safari Rally: Everything you need to know |url=https://www.autosport.com/wrc/news/wrc-safari-rally-everything-you-need-to-know/10326252/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=www.autosport.com |language=en}} Two editions of the rally - 2007 and 2009 - were also part of the Intercontinental Rally Challenge. In 2013, President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta announced a plan to return the Safari Rally to the world championship.{{Cite web |last=Njenga |first=Peter |date=25 June 2022 |title=Safari Rally rich part of Uhuru Kenyatta legacy and Kenya's sporting history |url=https://www.theeastafrican.co.ke/tea/sports/safari-rally-uhuru-kenyatta-legacy-kenya-sporting-history-3859224 |access-date=15 August 2022 |website=The East African}}
On the 27 September 2019, it was announced that the 2020 edition would be part of the World Rally Championship. This event was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Safari Rally eventually made a comeback to the WRC in 2021 after an eighteen-year hiatus from the 24–27 June, with a successful event held in Kenya on the floor of the Rift Valley in Naivasha, Nakuru County.{{Cite web |last=Sport |date=2021-12-28 |title=Kenya: Safari's Unique Experience Was a Sight to Behold for World Rally Teams |url=https://allafrica.com/stories/202112280399.html |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=allAfrica.com |language=en}} Sebastian Ogier and Julien Ingrassia emerged as winners in their Toyota Yaris WRC. The Safari has a WRC contract until 2026.
Winners
Kenyan drivers Shekhar Mehta and Carl Tundo have been the most successful competitors, with five outright victories each. Mehta won first in 1973, then consecutively from 1979 to 1982 - all while the event was part of the world championship. Tundo won five editions when the event was part of the African Rally Championship - the 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012 and 2018 events. Tundo has also finished on the podium twelve times, ahead of fellow Kenyan Ian Duncan with nine podium finishes.{{Cite web |last=Shacki |title=Safari Rally Hall of Fame |url=https://www.ewrc-results.com/hof/7-safari-rally/ |access-date=2022-08-16 |website=eWRC-results.com |language=en}}
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!colspan=1 width=5| Year !colspan=1 | Rally Name / Dates !colspan=1 | Winning Driver !colspan=1 | Co-driver !colspan=1 | Winning Car !colspan=1 | Status |
| 1953
| 1st Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Alan Dix | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Johnny Larsen | |
| 1954
| 2nd Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} D P Marwaha | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Vic Preston Sr | |
| 1955
| 3rd Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Vic Preston Sr | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} D P Marwaha | |
| 1956
| 4th Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Eric Cecil | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Tony Vickers | DKW | |
| 1957
| 5th Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Gus Hofmann | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Arthur Burton | |
| 1958
| 6th Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} T. Brooke | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Peter Hughes | Ford Anglia 100E (Impala class) | |
| 1959
| 7th Coronation Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Bill Fritschy | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Jack Ellis | |
| 1960
| 8th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Bill Fritschy | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Jack Ellis | |
| 1961
| 9th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} John Manussis | {{flagicon|KEN|colonial}} Bill Coleridge | |
| 1962
| 10th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya|colonial}} Tommy Fjastad | {{flagicon|Kenya|colonial}} Bernhard Schmider | |
| 1963
| 11th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya|colonial}} Nick Nowicki | {{flagicon|Kenya|colonial}} Paddy Cliff | |
| 1964
| 12th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Peter Hughes | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Bill Young | Ford Cortina GT | |
| 1965
| 13th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Joginder Singh | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Jaswant Singh | |
| 1966
| 14th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Bert Shankland | {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Chris Rothwell | |
| 1967
| 15th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Bert Shankland | {{flagicon|Tanzania}} Chris Rothwell | |
| 1968
| 16th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Nick Nowicki | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Paddy Cliff | Peugeot 404{{cite magazine| title = Safari 68|magazine=Autocar | volume = 129 (nbr 3777)| pages =6–9 |date = 4 July 1968}} | |
| 1969
| 17th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Robin Hillyar | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Jock Aird | |
| 1970
| 18th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Edgar Herrmann | {{flagicon|West Germany}} Hans Schüller | |
| 1971
| 19th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Edgar Herrmann | {{flagicon|West Germany}} Hans Schüller | |
| 1972
| 20th East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Hannu Mikkola | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Gunnar Palm | Ford Escort RS1600 | IMC |
| 1973
| 21st East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Shekhar Mehta | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Lofty Drews | WRC |
| 1974
| 22nd East African Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Joginder Singh | {{flagicon|Kenya}} David Doig | WRC |
| 1975
| 23rd Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Ove Andersson | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Arne Hertz | WRC |
| 1976
| 24th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Joginder Singh | {{flagicon|Kenya}} David Doig | WRC |
| 1977
| 25th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Björn Waldegård | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Hans Thorszelius | Ford Escort RS1800 | WRC |
| 1978
| 26th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|France}} Jean-Pierre Nicolas | {{flagicon|France}} Jean-Claude Lefèbvre | Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé | WRC |
| 1979
| 27th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Shekhar Mehta | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Mike Doughty | WRC |
| 1980
| 28th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Shekhar Mehta | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Mike Doughty | WRC |
| 1981
| 29th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Shekhar Mehta | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Mike Doughty | Nissan Violet GT | WRC |
| 1982
| 30th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Shekhar Mehta | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Mike Doughty | Nissan Violet GT | WRC |
| 1983
| 31st Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Ari Vatanen | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Terry Harryman | Opel Ascona 400 | WRC |
| 1984
| 32nd Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Björn Waldegård | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Hans Thorszelius | Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
| 1985
| 33rd Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Juha Kankkunen | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
| 1986
| 34th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Björn Waldegård | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
| 1987
| 35th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Hannu Mikkola | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Arne Hertz | WRC |
| 1988
| 36th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Italy}} Miki Biasion | {{flagicon|Italy}} Tiziano Siviero | WRC |
| 1989
| 37th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Italy}} Miki Biasion | {{flagicon|Italy}} Tiziano Siviero | WRC |
| 1990
| 38th Marlboro Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Björn Waldegård | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Fred Gallagher | WRC |
| 1991
| 39th Martini Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Juha Kankkunen | {{flagicon|Finland}} Juha Piironen | Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v | WRC |
| 1992
| 40th Martini Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Spain}} Carlos Sainz | {{flagicon|Spain}} Luis Moya | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
| 1993
| 41st Trustbank Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Juha Kankkunen | {{flagicon|Finland}} Juha Piironen | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
| 1994
| 42nd Trustbank Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Ian Duncan | {{flagicon|Kenya}} David Williamson | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
| 1995
| 43rd Safari Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|Japan}} Yoshio Fujimoto | {{flagicon|Sweden}} Arne Hertz | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | 2LWC |
| 1996
| 44th Safari Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|Finland}} Tommi Mäkinen | {{flagicon|Finland}} Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III | WRC |
| 1997
| 45th Safari Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Colin McRae | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Nicky Grist | WRC |
| 1998
| 46th Safari Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Richard Burns | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Robert Reid | Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV (Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IV) | WRC |
| 1999
| 47th 555 Safari Rally | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Colin McRae | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Nicky Grist | WRC |
| 2000
| 48th Sameer Safari Rally | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Richard Burns | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Robert Reid | WRC |
| 2001
| 49th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Tommi Mäkinen | {{flagicon|Finland}} Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 | WRC |
| 2002
| 50th Inmarsat Safari Rally | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Colin McRae | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Nicky Grist | WRC |
| 2003
| 51st KCB Safari Equator Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Glen Edmunds | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Titch Phillips | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI | ARC |
| 2004
| 52nd KCB Safari Rally Kenya | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Carl Tundo | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Tim Jessop | ARC |
| 2005
| 53rd KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Glen Edmunds | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Des Page-Morris | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII | ARC |
| 2006
| 54th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Azar Anwar | {{flagicon|Kenya}} George Mwangi | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VI | ARC |
| 2007
| 55th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Conrad Rautenbach | {{flagicon|Zimbabwe}} Peter Marsh | Subaru Impreza N10 | IRC & ARC |
| 2008
| 56th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Lee Rose | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Piers Daykin | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | ARC |
| 2009
| 57th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Carl Tundo | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Tim Jessop | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | IRC & ARC |
| 2010
| 58th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Lee Rose | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Piers Daykin | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | ARC |
| 2011
| 59th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Carl Tundo | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Tim Jessop | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | ARC |
| 2012
| 60th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Carl Tundo | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Tim Jessop | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX | ARC |
| 2013
| 61st KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Baldev Chager | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Ravi Soni | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | ARC |
| 2014
| 62nd KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Baldev Chager | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Ravi Soni | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X | ARC |
| 2015
| 63rd KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Singh Chatthe Jaspreet | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Panesar Gurdeep | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 | KRC |
| 2016
| 64th KCB Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Singh Chatthe Jaspreet | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Panesar Gurdeep | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 | KRC |
| 2017
| 65th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Finland}} Tapio Laukkanen | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Gavin Laurence | Subaru Impreza WRX STi 4 D R4 | ARC & KRC |
| 2018
| 66th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Carl Tundo | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Tim Jessop | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 | ARC & KRC |
| 2019
| 67th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Baldev Chager | {{flagicon|Kenya}} Ravi Soni | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X R4 | ARC & KRC |
| 2020
| 68th Safari Rally | colspan="4" align="center" | Cancelled due to COVID-19 concerns |
| 2021
| 68th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|FRA}} Sébastien Ogier | {{flagicon|FRA}} Julien Ingrassia | WRC |
| 2022
| 69th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|FIN}} Kalle Rovanperä | {{flagicon|FIN}} Jonne Halttunen | WRC |
| 2023
| 70th Safari Rally | {{flagicon|FRA}} Sebastien Ogier | {{flagicon|FRA}} Vincent Landais | WRC |
| 2024
| 71st Safari Rally | {{flagicon|FIN}} Kalle Rovanperä | {{flagicon|FIN}} Jonne Halttunen | WRC |
| 2025
| 72nd Safari Rally | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Elfyn Evans | {{flagicon|United Kingdom}} Scott Martin | WRC |
Notes: IMC = International Championship for Manufacturers, WRC = World Rally Championship, 2LWC = 2-Litre World Cup, ARC = African Rally Championship, IRC = Intercontinental Rally Challenge, KRC = Kenya National Rally Championship
East African Safari Rally (classic)
The East African Safari Rally is a Classic rally event first held in 2003 to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first running of the event. The event has since been held biennially.{{Cite web |date=2021-07-03 |title=The "adventure" that marks a driver's return to rallying |url=https://dirtfish.com/rally/the-adventure-that-marks-a-drivers-return-to-rallying/ |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=DirtFish |language=en-US}} The nine day event takes place over {{Convert|5000|km|mi}}, and is open to vehicles built before 1985.{{Cite web |last1=Duggan |first1=Briana |last2=Page |first2=Tom |date=8 April 2022 |title='It's just about you, the road and your maker': Inside the East African Safari Classic |url=https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/05/sport/east-african-safari-rally-kenya-2022-spc-intl/index.html |access-date=2022-08-15 |website=CNN}} The 2017 edition of the rally had joint winners, as both Richard Jackson and Carl Tundo had the same time.
See also
{{commons category|Safari Rally}}
- Safari Rally (1978 film)
- Safari 3000 (1982 film)
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{official website|https://www.safarirally.ke/}} {{in lang|en}}
{{World rallies}}
{{Safari Rally}}
Category:Recurring sporting events established in 1953
Category:World Rally Championship rallies