Safari Rally
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/EAS1973.jpg/220px-EAS1973.jpg)
The Safari Rally is considered by many to be the world's toughest rally. It was first held from 27 May to 1 June 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda and Tanganyika,[1] 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.
The event was part of the World Rally Championship calendar for many years until being excluded due to lack of funding and organisation in 2003. The Kenyan government is trying to get the rally's WRC status restored. Since 2003 the event has been part of the African Rally Championship organized by the FIA. It is currently known as the KCB Safari Rally after its sponsor, Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB).
Local driver Shekhar Mehta was the most successful in the event with five outright victories (1973, 1979-1982).
Past winners
- 1953 - No official winner declared. Fewest penalty points:
- Alan Dix / Johnny Larsen | Volkswagen Beetle 1131 cc
- Doug Airth / Raymond Collinge | Standard Vanguard
- 1954 - Vic Preston Sr (Ken) / D P Marwaha | Volkswagen Beetle
- 1955 - Vic Preston Sr (Ken) / D P Marwaha | Ford Zephyr
- 1956 - Eric Cecil / Tony Vickers | DKW
- 1957 - Gus Hofmann /Arthur Burton | DKW
- 1958 - No official winner declared. Fewest penalty points:
- Arne Kopperud /Kora Kopperud | Ford Zephyr II (Lion class)
- Morris Temple-Boreham / Mike Armstrong | Auto Union 1000 (Leopard class)
Year | Rally Name / Dates | Winning Driver / Co-driver | Winning Car | Status |
---|---|---|---|---|
1959 | 7th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 190 | |
1960 | 8th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 190 | |
1961 | 9th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Mercedes-Benz 220SE | |
1962 | 10th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Volkswagen 1200 | |
1963 | 11th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Peugeot 404 | |
1964 | 12th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Ford Cortina GT | |
1965 | 13th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Volvo PV 544 | |
1966 | 14th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Peugeot 404 | |
1967 | 15th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Peugeot 404 | |
1968 | 16th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Peugeot 404[2] | |
1969 | 17th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Ford Taunus 20M RS | |
1970 | 18th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Datsun 1600 SSS | |
1971 | 19th East African Safari Rally | ![]() ![]() |
Datsun 240Z | |
1972 | 20th East African Safari Rally (30 Mar - 3 Apr) |
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Ford Escort RS1600 | IMC |
1973 | 21st East African Safari Rally (19 - 23 Apr) |
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Datsun 240Z | WRC |
1974 | 22nd East African Safari Rally (11 - 15 Apr) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR | WRC |
1975 | 23rd Safari Rally (27 - 31 Mar) |
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Peugeot 504 | WRC |
1976 | 24th Safari Rally (15 - 19 Apr) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR | WRC |
1977 | 25th Safari Rally (7 - 11 Apr) |
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Ford Escort RS1800 | WRC |
1978 | 26th Safari Rally (23 - 27 Mar) |
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Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé | WRC |
1979 | 27th Safari Rally (12 - 16 Apr) |
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Datsun 160J | WRC |
1980 | 28th Safari Rally (3 - 7 Apr) |
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Datsun 160J | WRC |
1981 | 29th Safari Rally (16 - 29 Apr) |
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Nissan Violet GT | WRC |
1982 | 30th Marlboro Safari Rally (8 - 12 Apr) |
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Nissan Violet GT | WRC |
1983 | 31st Marlboro Safari Rally (30 Mar - 4 Apr) |
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Opel Ascona 400 | WRC |
1984 | 32nd Marlboro Safari Rally (19 - 23 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
1985 | 33rd Marlboro Safari Rally (4 - 8 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
1986 | 34th Marlboro Safari Rally (29 Mar - 2 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica TCT | WRC |
1987 | 35th Marlboro Safari Rally (16 - 20 Apr) |
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Audi 200 Quattro | WRC |
1988 | 36th Marlboro Safari Rally (31 Mar - 4 Apr) |
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Lancia Delta Integrale | WRC |
1989 | 37th Marlboro Safari Rally (23-27 Mar) |
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Lancia Delta Integrale | WRC |
1990 | 38th Marlboro Safari Rally (11-16 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica GT-4 ST165 | WRC |
1991 | 39th Martini Safari Rally 27 (Mar - 1 Apr) |
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Lancia Delta Integrale 16V | WRC |
1992 | 40th Martini Safari Rally 27 (Mar - 1 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
1993 | 41st Trustbank Safari Rally (8-12 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
1994 | 42nd Trustbank Safari Rally (31 Mar - 3 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | WRC |
1995 | 43rd Safari Rally (14-17 Apr) |
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Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD | 2LWC |
1996 | 44th Safari Rally (5-7 Apr) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 3 | WRC |
1997 | 45th Safari Rally (1-3 Mar) |
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Subaru Impreza WRC | WRC |
1998 | 46th Safari Rally (28 Feb - 2 Mar) |
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Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evo 4 | WRC |
1999 | 47th Safari Rally (26-28 Feb) |
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Ford Focus | WRC |
2000 | 48th Sameer Safari Rally (25-27 Feb) |
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Subaru Impreza WRC | WRC |
2001 | 49th Safari Rally (20-22 Jul) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 | WRC |
2002 | 50th Inmarsat Safari Rally (12-14 Jul) |
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Ford Focus | WRC |
2003 | 51st KCB Safari Rally (9-11 Oct) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6 | ARC |
2004 | 52nd KCB Safari Rally (12-14 Mar) |
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Subaru Impreza | ARC |
2005 | 53rd KCB Safari Rally (15th - 17th Jul) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 7 | ARC |
2006 | 54th KCB Safari Rally (24 - 26 Mar) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6 | ARC |
2007 | 55th KCB Safari Rally (9-11 Mar) |
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Subaru Impreza N10 | IRC & ARC |
2008 | 56th KCB Safari Rally (27-29 Jun) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 | ARC |
2009 | 57th KCB Safari Rally (3-5 Apr) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 | IRC & ARC |
2010 | 58th KCB Safari Rally (2-4 Apr) |
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 9 | ARC |
Notes: IMC = International Championship for Manufacturers, WRC = World Rally Championship, 2LWC = 2-Litre World Cup, ARC = African Rally Championship, IRC = Intercontinental Rally Challenge
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.
Year | Dates | Winning Driver / Co-driver | Winning Car |
---|---|---|---|
2003 | Dec 10 - Dec 19 | ![]() ![]() |
Datsun 240Z |
2005 | Dec 1 - Dec 10 | ![]() ![]() |
Datsun 260Z |
2007 | Nov 25 - Dec 3 | ![]() ![]() |
Ford Escort Mk1 |
2009 | Nov 22 - Dec 1 | ![]() ![]() |
Ford Mustang |
References
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/4/4a/Commons-logo.svg/30px-Commons-logo.svg.png)
- KMSF official website
- Kenya National Rally Championship
- African Rally Championship official website
- International Rally Challenge
- Race results since 1970 at Rallybase.nl website
- World Rally Archive - Safari Rally
- Article on VW Beetles' performances in the Safari Rally
- "The East African Safari Rally & Joginder Singh", Eric Cecil, 1973
- East African Safari Rally (classic) official website
- East African Safari Rally (classic) 2007 (Team 51 Pictures)