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 555 Safari Rally 1997Check out the great Safari Rally official website which also has results and pictures. Safari Rally was the last of the WRC rallies to be squeezed into the modern three-day format. That meant that the rally was shorter than before but not that it was any easier. In Safari there were 13 'special stages' which are longer than in any other rally (60-155km) and the roads are not closed from other traffic. For each competitive section there is a time limit, which is unreachable, so all the cars come to the finish 'late'. Who is least late, wins. Using helicopters for servicing on the competitive sections was banned this year, a decision which caused grievances for many a team. Servicing could be done only at special service parks twice a day. Helicopters were used only to warn the drivers about traffic or animals on the road ahead. As in Sweden, tires played a major role, but not because of slippery roads. The unpuncturable ATS tires can't usually be used in Kenya because of high speeds, long specials and heat, so punctures were common and for many the two spare tires allowed weren't enough. Already on the first competitive section almost all the works drivers had problems. Worst off was Kenneth Eriksson, who hit a rock at 130kph, which tore off the whole right rear wheel. He made it to the service with three wheels but the repairs took just a few seconds too long and he was out. Also Tommi Makinen, Carlos Sainz and Colin McRae suffered various punctures and suspension problems. Fastest on the first section was Kenyan Ian Duncan with a Toyota.
On the second stage it was Sainz' turn to become a spectator. He lost a wheel apparently because the wheel nuts were left loose after a quick puncture change by the drivers midway through the section. Duncan had suspension problems and Makinen took the lead. Armin Schwartz of Ford took the lead on the third stage as Makinen had a puncture causing also suspension damage. McRae was now second but on the last stage of the day he shared Makinen's problems. Armin Schwartz was gambling by using ATS tires and it paid off; he was first to start the second day of rallying. Second was now Richard Burns, driving a works Mitsubishi Carisma GT, the 'sister model' of Lancer Evo 4. He was followed by world champions McRae and Makinen. Time difference between the leader and Ian Duncan, 5th, was only 4 minutes, which is not a long time in Safari. On the first section of the 2nd day Tommi Makinen punctured three tires at once, and with only two spares aboard he tried to continue with one flat tire to the end of the section. After 40kms he first lost the rear wheel drive and soon there was no drive whatsoever; last year's winner retired. On the same stage Schwartz broke the rear suspension and had to stop to replace shocks. Colin McRae had no problems and took the lead. On the next stage some spectators longing for action piled large rocks in the middle of the road and waited for the cars to come. First up was Colin and he drove right through the rockpile, but incredibly nothing important was damaged and he could go on full speed. Stupidity among some of the rally spectators seems to be a worldwide phenomenon. The following stages were not quite as hard for the cars. Colin steadily extended his lead, while both Schwartz and Burns experienced minor problems, allowing Ian Duncan to come through to second place. Duncan enjoyed first-class service, as suspension parts and a mechanic were ordered during the day directly from Sweden and flown to Kenya for the evening service. Armin Schwarz had to rely on more home brewn methods, as, after the accelerator cable broke, he had to operate the throttle by hand, using co-driver Denis Giraudet's shoelaces as a cable! At the end of the second day McRae's lead was 6.39. Burns had taken back the second place and was followed by Duncan, with Schwarz already more than an hour behind. On the last day Colin took it easy, avoiding trouble. At first Burns was still charging but he got clutch problems which slowed him down a bit. Colin had electrical problems which apparently came very close to being terminal, but they were sorted out. The final couple of competitive sections were about nursing the car home for all the drivers.
Colin McRae took Subaru's first win in the Safari, which put him back at the top end of the championship standings. For Richard Burns the second place was his personal best in the WRC. Ian Duncan showed again his strength in this very special event by finishing third. After all the troubles Armin Schwarz was happy to come fourth in his first Safari. Fifth was Jonathan Toroitich with a Toyota. Results of the 1997 Safari Rally:
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Next event: Rally Portugal (Mar 23 - 27)