History 1990s

1992 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire – Bandama (Ivory Coast)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1992 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire – Bandama (Ivory Coast)

Date: October 31 – November 3, 1992

Start Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Finish Location: Abidjan, Ivory Coast

Total Distance: 3,056 km (2,143 km competitive)

Surface: Gravel, laterite, dirt tracks

The 1992 Rallye Côte d’Ivoire remained a brutal test of stamina, vehicle preservation, and navigational skill. With long stages, high humidity, and little margin for error, it stood as the last of the great African endurance rallies on the WRC calendar. Kenjiro Shinozuka, well-versed in the demands of African terrain, paired with co-driver John Meadows to guide their Mitsubishi Galant VR-4 to victory—his second win in Ivory Coast and another jewel in Mitsubishi’s rally raid résumé.

Route

Abidjan to Yamoussoukro: High-speed straights over laterite—drivers faced severe dust and blazing heat from the outset.

Interior Forest Loops: Narrow two-track roads, mud ruts, and village crossings—navigation and local knowledge were critical.

Return to Coast: Mechanical fatigue became the biggest threat—teams often ran with reduced service availability and relied on field repairs.

This grueling open-road rally wound through the Ivory Coast’s dusty trails, jungle tracks, and remote river crossings:

With no traditional special stages, teams drove long loops against the clock over public and remote roads—reliability and survival came before outright speed.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner

Kenjiro Shinozuka & John Meadows · Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

2nd Place

Alain Ambrosino & Jean-Claude Lemoine · Nissan Sunny GTI

3rd Place

Patrick Tauziac & Claude Papin · Mitsubishi Galant VR-4

Shinozuka’s calm, methodical drive through extreme conditions reaffirmed his status as a true African rally specialist—he outlasted the chaos while others fell victim to it.

Navigation & Challenges

Route Complexity: Minimal signage meant co-drivers had to manage timecards, distances, and terrain changes without GPS or errors.
Heat and Fatigue: Cockpit temperatures exceeded 50°C, and long stages demanded mental sharpness over 10–12 hour days.
Mechanical Attrition: Only a handful of cars finished without serious issues—Shinozuka’s steady hand on the car kept it alive to the finish.

The 1992 Côte d’Ivoire Rally showcased the last great breath of rallying’s marathon era—Shinozuka’s victory was as much about endurance as it was about elite rally skill.

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