History 1980s

1981 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1981 Safari Rally

Date: April 16–20, 1981

Host Country: Kenya

Surface: Gravel (Endurance Format)

Total Distance: 3,900 km

Total Starters: Approx. 62 crews

Total Finishers: 18 crews

The 1981 Safari Rally remained one of the most grueling events in the WRC calendar. With torrential rains, deep mud, river crossings, and wildlife hazards, only the strongest cars and most experienced crews could survive. Shekhar Mehta—born and raised in Uganda—once again proved his mastery of African rallying, winning his fourth Safari Rally (and second in a row) alongside co-driver Mike Doughty in the durable Datsun Violet GT.

Route

Nairobi to Mombasa: Fast but rutted tracks with scattered boulders and blinding dust clouds when dry.
Lake Naivasha & Nakuru: Muddy highland sections with river crossings and sudden changes in elevation.
Amboseli Plains: Open scrubland with roaming wildlife, fesh-fesh dust traps, and barely visible trail markers.

The rally looped through the Rift Valley, Amboseli, and the Great Lakes region, with long liaison sections and timed controls spread across thousands of kilometers of rough, open terrain.

True to Safari tradition, no special stages were used—competitors instead raced against the clock over real-world roads, with time penalties applied at control points and timecards.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Shekhar Mehta & Mike Doughty · Datsun Violet GT
2nd Place
Rauno Aaltonen & Lofty Drews · Datsun Violet GT
3rd Place
Vic Preston Jr. & John Lyall · Porsche 911 SC

Mehta’s experience navigating Kenya’s brutal terrain gave him a decisive edge. He paced himself early, attacked when others faltered, and kept the car in one piece while others broke down or got stuck in the rain-soaked savannah.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Flooded Trails: Heavy rainfall prior to the rally turned sections into deep mud—exhausting for both drivers and mechanics.
  • Animal Hazards: Zebra, antelope, and cattle often crossed the route without warning.
  • Mechanical Endurance: Constant sand, vibration, and heat punished every part of the car—fuel, tires, and filters had to be constantly monitored.

The 1981 Safari Rally was a battle of attrition, and Mehta once again proved that local experience, strategic pace, and mechanical sympathy were the keys to conquering Africa’s ultimate rally test.

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