The 1986 Safari Rally

Always one of the toughest events in the World Rally Championship, the 1986 Safari Rally lived up to character. A field of 76 set off from Nairobi, including defending champion Juha Kankkunen of Finland (Peugeot 205) and twice former Safari winner Bjorn Waldegaard of Sweden (Toyota Celica Turbo). https://www.dukevideo.com/prd4613ED/R... As this video forcibly demonstrates, the terrain of the 2,600 mile event provided a severe challenge, taking crews first to the south-east of Kenya, including the night-drive through the Taita Hills. Marku Alen in the Lancia showed that his vivid style is not restricted to tarmac road events, while Lars-Eric Torph (Sweden) provided admirable back-up to Waldegaard. The punishing heat, strength-sapping sand and grass lanes and dunes tested the world championship aspirants to the limit, and it's here on this film waiting to be seen and re-seen.