History 1990s

1991 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1991 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Date: March 27 – April 1, 1991

Start Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Finish Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Total Distance: 3,827 km

Surface: Gravel (endurance format)

The 1991 Safari Rally lived up to its brutal reputation, punishing drivers and machinery across Kenya’s harsh terrain. In a breakthrough performance, Kenjiro Shinozuka and co-driver John Meadows delivered a composed, intelligent drive through flood-prone riverbeds, rocky savannah, and scorching plains to take a landmark victory. It marked the first WRC win for a Japanese driver and a major milestone for Mitsubishi, proving the Galant VR-4’s reliability in the ultimate test of durability and discipline.

Route

Great Rift Valley: Fast plains scattered with loose stones and flash floods that destroyed suspensions and radiators.

Mount Kenya Foothills: Dense wildlife zones and unpredictable terrain with little room for mechanical error.

Amboseli and Tsavo Sections: Long high-speed sections prone to dust clouds, wildlife crossings, and treacherous ruts.

The Safari’s open-road stages required endurance, precision navigation, and resilience over thousands of kilometers:

Rainstorms throughout the event transformed several sections into deep water crossings—forcing competitors to balance risk, traction, and cooling efficiency.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Kenjiro Shinozuka & John Meadows · Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

2nd Place

Ari Vatanen & Bruno Berglund · Subaru Legacy RS

3rd Place

Malcolm Wilson & Nigel Harris · Ford Sierra Sapphire 4x4

Shinozuka’s triumph wasn’t about outright speed—it was a demonstration of patience, discipline, and mechanical preservation over nearly 4,000 km of African extremes.

Navigation & Challenges

Weather Shocks: Sudden storms washed out entire sections—teams had to reroute or risk mechanical failure in deep water.
Wildlife and Locals: Livestock, zebra, and curious bystanders made hazard avoidance just as important as navigation.
Mechanical Sympathy: Shinozuka’s steady pace and understanding of terrain preserved his car while others overextended and retired.

The 1991 Safari Rally rewarded wisdom over aggression—Shinozuka’s measured approach etched his name into the history books as a pioneer of Japanese rallying success.

← Previous Event 1991 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

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