History 1970s

1974 East African Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 22nd East African Safari Rally

Date: April 11–15, 1974

Host Country: Kenya

Surface: Gravel

Total Distance: ~5,300 km

Total Starters: 99 crews

Total Finishers: 18 crews

The 1974 Safari Rally once again proved to be the toughest test in the World Rally Championship. Set across Kenya’s vast landscapes, the rally’s sheer length, unpredictable weather, and punishing surfaces pushed competitors to the limit. Joginder Singh and co-driver David Doig masterfully handled the challenge in their Mitsubishi Lancer GSR, becoming local legends and delivering Mitsubishi’s first-ever WRC win in unforgettable fashion.

Route

Rift Valley Stages: Rocky climbs, river crossings, and wildlife risks made for unpredictable driving conditions.
Tsavo and Amboseli: Dry plains littered with sharp stones, causing frequent punctures and shock failures.
Coastal Rain Zones: Sudden downpours turned dry roads into mud baths, burying slower crews and halting entire stages.

Traversing Kenya’s savannahs, highlands, and arid stretches, the route included fesh-fesh dust, flooded roads, and extended liaison segments between competitive zones.

Only the most well-prepared and patient drivers had any hope of finishing, let alone winning, in this iconic African marathon.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Joginder Singh & David Doig · Mitsubishi Lancer GSR
2nd Place
Hannu Mikkola & Gunnar Palm · Ford Escort RS1600
3rd Place
Harry Källström & Claes-Göran Andersson · Datsun 1800 SSS

Singh’s calculated pace and local knowledge, paired with the Lancer’s toughness, allowed them to overcome faster cars and claim a historic win for both Kenya and Mitsubishi.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Brutal Length: Over 5,000 km of harsh driving with little room for error or consistent service access.
  • Weather Chaos: Sudden rainstorms flooded entire sections, trapping or stranding several top crews.
  • Mechanical Resilience: Winning demanded extreme reliability and the ability to make emergency repairs on the fly.

The 1974 East African Safari Rally was a triumph of durability, strategy, and local experience—cementing Singh’s place in rallying history and putting Mitsubishi firmly on the global motorsport map.

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