History 1990s

1992 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1992 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Date: March 27 – April 1, 1992

Start Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Finish Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Total Distance: 4,040 km (endurance rally format)

Surface: Gravel, dirt, and open road

The 1992 Safari Rally remained the World Rally Championship’s most grueling challenge. Covering over 4,000 kilometers of open African roads, the event tested not just driver speed but mechanical durability, navigation accuracy, and physical endurance. Kenjiro Shinozuka, one of rallying’s African specialists, delivered a composed and tactical drive through punishing terrain. With co-driver John Meadows and the dependable Mitsubishi Galant VR-4, he outlasted the competition to take his second career Safari win.

Route

Mount Kenya Region: High-altitude gravel with foggy mornings, steep inclines, and slippery volcanic rock.

Lake Baringo and Eldoret Loops: Dust clouds, wildlife hazards, and surface transitions from sand to sharp rock.

Maasai Mara Plains: Open dirt tracks with tall grass, unpredictable weather, and flooded sections after brief storms.

The rally's route looped across remote stretches of Kenya, through dusty plains, rocky riverbeds, and rain-drenched savannahs:

Service areas were sparse, making mechanical preservation and navigational accuracy more important than outright stage speed.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Kenjiro Shinozuka & John Meadows · Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

2nd Place

Ian Duncan & Ian Munro · Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165

3rd Place

Ari Vatanen & Bruno Berglund · Subaru Legacy RS

Shinozuka’s calculated pace and flawless teamwork gave Mitsubishi another legendary Safari win—cementing his place as one of the great African rally drivers.

Navigation & Challenges

Mechanical Endurance: Suspensions, tires, and cooling systems were stressed across multiple 1,000 km loops with minimal repair time.
Open-Road Format: No traditional special stages—crews raced against the clock on public dirt roads, managing speed and accuracy with route books.
Local Hazards: Wildlife crossings, water damage, and navigation errors ended the rally early for several top contenders.

The 1992 Safari Rally remained a monument to endurance rallying—Shinozuka’s victory was equal parts patience, preparation, and raw resolve under Africa’s unforgiving skies.

← Previous Event 1992 Rallye de Portugal – Vinho do Porto (Portugal)

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