Rally Discussion and Bar Talk Thread

[Rally Power]

No, quite contrary to that, Safari was more of a specialist event with not even all teams and drivers taking part, instead using specialist drivers who would not then do the rest of the rounds at all (like Waldegård in 1990 or Ian Duncan). Maybe the car manufacturers felt like it was an important event to show off for car endurance, but us fans were more interested in fights for seconds (we didn't do timing in tenths back then).

Yep, from the mid 80’s the Safari struggled adapting to a more ‘speed centered’ spirit of the WRC, boosted by Gr.B introduction, but in the 70’s the Safari was an iconic rally, probably the most prestigious of the series, alongside Monte-Carlo. In those early days of the WRC the endurance character prevailed in most events and rallys requiring a flat out pace, like Sweden and Finland, were somehow an exception; like at the Safari, their specific nature also granted local drivers huge success.