History 1990s

1998 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 1998 Safari Rally (Kenya)

Date: February 27 – March 2, 1998

Start Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Finish Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Total Distance: ~2,400 km (full route)

Competitive Stages: 1,090 km

Surface: Gravel, dirt, rocky terrain

The 1998 Safari Rally once again delivered a punishing test of durability and concentration over long African stages. Known for being the roughest and longest-running event on the WRC calendar, the rally featured extreme weather, wildlife hazards, and mechanical attrition. Richard Burns and co-driver Robert Reid triumphed in a composed and intelligent drive that earned them their first World Rally Championship victory. Their Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV proved its reliability through some of the harshest conditions in rallying history.

Route

Suswa Loop: Rocky terrain and dry riverbeds that challenged suspension setups and driver endurance.
Lake Naivasha Section: Wide-open plains and fesh-fesh dust clouds, reducing visibility and air filter performance.
Ewaso Kedong: A high-speed route riddled with large stones, water splashes, and wildlife crossings.

The stages crisscrossed Kenya’s semi-arid landscapes, often covering more than 100 km per stage. Key segments included:

Despite the rally’s marathon format, only a few time controls were used, and competitors relied heavily on helicopter-assisted servicing and tire strategy to survive the brutal stages.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Mitsubishi Lancer Evo IV
2nd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Repo · Ford Escort WRC
3rd Place
Ari Vatanen & Bruno Berglund · Subaru Impreza WRC97

Burns’s calm, calculated performance across the multi-day event marked a breakthrough moment in his career and gave Mitsubishi a prestigious Safari Rally win in one of the WRC’s most difficult arenas.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Stage Length: Individual stages exceeded 120 km, requiring extreme stamina and pace control from drivers and co-drivers alike.
  • Environmental Hazards: Crews contended with deep dust, extreme heat, wildlife crossings, and sudden storm damage to the course.
  • Mechanical Preservation: The rough terrain punished suspension arms, cooling systems, and tires — finishing was just as important as speed.

The 1998 Safari Rally embodied the spirit of endurance rallying. Richard Burns’s victory was not only a personal milestone, but also a testament to strategic driving and mechanical survival in one of the world’s most unforgiving events.

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