History 2000s

2000 Safari Rally Kenya (Kenya)

Overview Route Results Cars Challenges

Overview

Event Name: 2000 Safari Rally Kenya (Kenya)

Date: February 25–27, 2000

Start Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Finish Location: Nairobi, Kenya

Total Distance: ~2,300 km (estimated full route)

Competitive Stages: 1,047.3 km

Surface: Gravel (endurance format)

The 2000 Safari Rally maintained its fearsome reputation as the toughest event on the WRC calendar. Vast gravel plains, extreme heat, wildlife hazards, and long competitive sections pushed crews to their physical and mechanical limits. Richard Burns and Robert Reid handled the challenge with remarkable composure and speed, leading from early stages and sealing Subaru's fourth Safari win.

Route

Ngong Hills: Fast-flowing terrain interrupted by sharp rocks and dry creek crossings.
Amboseli Region: Dust-heavy, visibility-reducing stretches with severe ruts and frequent livestock crossings.
Elementaita Loop: High-speed gravel with sudden water splashes and washed-out corners.

Set in and around Nairobi, the route combined remote plains, rough gravel roads, and timed open-road sections. Key challenges included:

Unlike traditional rallies, the Safari's open-road format and long, punishing stages required cars to be durable as well as fast — service intervals were far apart and time losses often insurmountable.

🏆 Results

Overall Winner
Richard Burns & Robert Reid · Subaru Impreza S5 WRC
2nd Place
Carlos Sainz & Luis Moya · Ford Focus RS WRC 00
3rd Place
Juha Kankkunen & Juha Repo · Subaru Impreza S5 WRC

Burns’s consistency and clean pace kept him comfortably ahead throughout, while Sainz drove cautiously to bring home second. Kankkunen’s return to Subaru yielded a strong result, giving the team two podium spots.

Navigation & Challenges

  • Distance & Fatigue: Competitive sections spanned hundreds of kilometers — co-driver focus and tire conservation were essential.
  • Animal Hazards: Zebra, cattle, and antelope were frequent stage hazards, often forcing drivers to brake or swerve at speed.
  • Mechanical Endurance: Punctures, broken suspensions, and overheating plagued many — teams with solid prep and quick roadside repairs survived best.

Burns’s triumph in Kenya was not only a career highlight but a critical statement in the 2000 title race — a perfect display of speed, caution, and control under rallying’s most extreme conditions.

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