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WRC drivers expect Safari Rally to be more demanding than ever
World Rally Championship drivers are predicting this weekend’s Safari Rally Kenya will be one of the toughest in recent history.
The Safari Rally has built up a reputation as being the championship’s most challenging event thanks to its wild and brutal gravel roads, and unpredictable weather.
This year it seems conditions for the 21-stage event, which begins on Thursday, will be even more difficult than last year, requiring drivers to adopt a clever approach to succeed in the African classic.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans holds a 30-point lead over his nearest full-time rival heading into the event. The Welshman believes there is even less margin for error this year.
“There are a lot of long and technical stages. This new stage has a lot of crests and bumps and it is lined with stones everywhere,” said Evans after clocking the seventh fastest time on shakedown.
“I think the margin for error is even less. The definition of the road is very difficult to find, and of course there is lot of stones in the grass, so it is a bit of a lottery in places.
“It is important to do as well as possible but how that exactly comes about is hard to know. I think you need an element of endurance on this rally, it is going to be long and it is going to be tough.
“We have to wait and see how we fare. I don’t think it is orally where you can go flat out like in Sweden.”
Team-mate and two-time Safari Rally winner Kalle Rovanpera agreed with Evans’ view, admitting that managing his GR Yaris through the stages with a clever approach will be key to victory.
“It feels like it is going to be more tough than before, and I think even more clever driving will be needed now we have long stages at the start, which are rough already,” said Rovanpera, who was fastest on Wednesday’s shakedown.
“You really need to take care of everything to make it through, and I think that will be the biggest thing.”
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak, added: “The roads are not really prepared and it is difficult to find the way and there are some huge stones, and more technical sections this year, so altogether Safari is always demanding, but this year it seems a bit extra.
“The key will be to survive and have a good rhythm without trouble.”
M-Sport-Ford rookie Josh McErlean will tackle the event for the first time and is unsure just how much punishment the cars will be able to take on the rough roads.
“When you come to the Safari Rally you have to expect a big adventure and it is definitely going to be that with what we have seen on the stages,” said McErlean.
“The conditions are crazy to be honest. Coming to this level of the WRC for the first time, it is difficult to know what these cars can take on these roads.”
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