History 1970s

1972 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1972 Safari Rally

Date: April 20–24, 1972

Host Country: Kenya

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~5,960 km

Total Starters: 89 crews

Total Finishers: 18 crews

The 1972 Safari Rally stood as the longest and most grueling event on the global rally calendar. Known for its brutal conditions, unpredictable weather, and wildlife hazards, the rally demanded extreme endurance, careful pacing, and mechanical sympathy. It was less a sprint than a survival challenge through the wilds of East Africa.

Route

Rift Valley: Long, rocky stretches across open terrain tested suspension strength and driver vision through dust clouds.
Rain Belt Zones: Tropical storms converted firm dirt into mud traps within minutes, requiring agility and luck.
Mountain Foothills: Rough, twisty segments with steep gradients pushed braking systems to the limit.

Traversing Kenya’s vast savannas, escarpments, and highland regions, the route included everything from dusty plains to rain-soaked jungle roads—looping around Nairobi, Nakuru, and into Uganda's borderlands.

Unlike European rallies, the Safari’s stages were long-distance road sections with tight timing windows and minimal service opportunities.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Hannu Mikkola & Gunnar Palm · Ford Escort RS1600
2nd Place
Edgar Herrmann & Hans Schüller · Datsun 240Z
3rd Place
Rauno Aaltonen & Lofty Drews · Peugeot 504

Mikkola and Palm delivered a flawless run through treacherous terrain, outlasting the competition and mastering conditions that caused massive attrition across the field.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Extreme Distance: Nearly 6,000 km of timed sections required constant focus, efficient fuel management, and mechanical restraint.
  • Variable Terrain: Dust, rock, mud, floods, and even wildlife encounters created one of the most unpredictable driving environments in motorsport.
  • Minimal Service: Teams had limited support, relying on rugged prep work and in-car fixes between long control zones.

The 1972 Safari Rally was a legendary test of survival and strategy—one that Mikkola and Palm mastered with mechanical brilliance and steady nerves behind the wheel of a hardened Escort RS1600.

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