Safari Rally: Everything for safety

For a long time, technical checks were one of the great moments of a world championship event. Most of the time they took place in a space around which the public could see the whole process. It started with the amateurs then the reverse order of the numbers led to the official teams arriving last. The cars were entering the area and what was magical was that the crews were also there. This sometimes gave rise to a delirious atmosphere, as when Carlos Sainz, then at the top, made his entry into the Lloret de Mar sports palace... Goosebumps guaranteed... For the spectators, but also the media, it was an excellent opportunity to approach the stars of the discipline... until the day where they were exempted from this appointment. Audits suddenly lost their appeal as they also became alienated from fans.

Today, they take place in the team enclosure for the official cars. The cars no longer go to the marshals, the opposite is happening. The latter, which are often premises, carry out the same checks as before, but there are now more specific elements, since rooms are sealed and must be used for several events. Everything is listed in order to verify in particular that a manufacturer only operates two engines per season.

For WRC2 competitors and other crews, the ritual remains the same as before. The mechanics drive the car with the necessary documents and the officials have a whole list of points to note: windshield wipers, brake lights, indicators, headlights, horn... Inside, it's even stricter, because the seats must comply with the regulations just like the fire extinguisher. The headband is also scrupulously studied to ensure that there are no cracks.

Safety checks are very thorough inside the cars (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

« In some countries, said a commissioner during the Kenyan checks, we sometimes had funny surprises. Here, a pilot had pierced one of the tubes… We could not authorize him to take the start. » It is not impossible that a competitor will be obliged to make a change to his mount in order to be able to compete. In addition to the car, drivers and co-drivers must also comply with the safety measures in force regarding suits, helmets or flame-retardant underwear.

In order to seal the parts or check the seals, the marshals can look under the cars (Photo: Loïc Rocci)