Safari Rally – Romet Jürgenson discovers Kenya

While the competitors are competing in the special stages, work never stops in the teams preparing for the next loop. It's the perfect opportunity to visit the teams, chat with the mechanics...and meet some surprising people. Assigned to tire management, Romet Jürgenson seemed delighted with the experience.

Published 21/03/2025 à 12:08

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Safari Rally – Romet Jürgenson discovers Kenya

After completing the reconnaissance, Romet Jürgenson remained in Kenya to work with the M-Sport team (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

It's not every day that a world champion rally finds himself "in blue" to carry tires to the Hankook workshop and then bring them back around the Puma Rally1 of Grégoire Munster and Jos McErlean. Visibly happy with his lot, the Estonian spoke about the reason for his presence in Africa.

« I wanted to carry out the reconnaissance of this event and we found an arrangement with M-Sport, he explained. I noticed that the roads taken here have nothing in common with what we experience in Europe. While taking notes, I realized that you have to focus more on speed than on angles. You must not hesitate to describe the road and the places where you can pass. Watching the live images, you realize that the competitors have trajectories that do not follow the path. Generally, I manage well in these types of conditions, so I think I would like to do the Safari. The drivers drive a lot according to what they see and they are forced to use their heads. I like this philosophy. We had to use it in Junior to be sure to finish the stages with our Rally3s. »

Occasionally working as a tire technician, Romet Jürgenson even had an office in Kenya (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

Coming from the FIA Rally Star scouting program, Jürgenson managed to win the JWRC title last year and this season he is competing in WRC2 in a Ford Fiesta Rally2, capitalizing on the prize he won as champion. Having always shown a desire to learn, it was not so surprising to find him in this adventure. After Sweden, I had a free period in my schedule., he added. I thought the idea was good to come and the solution to achieve it suited me too. So here I am, a tire technician…and it's quite interesting. Look, I even have an office! This is the second time I've been to Africa after the FIA Prize Giving Ceremony in Kigali, Rwanda, last year. It's magnificent, I really enjoy being here." On his return from Kenya, Romet Jürgenson will travel to Carlisle, England, to compete in the 2^e BRC Championship round (Kielder Carlisle Stage April 12).

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