Safari Rally: When directors try their Rally1

Kenya's shakedown is definitely a place where something special is always happening. Last year, Pierre-Louis Loubet took William Ruto, the country's president, in his Ford Puma Rally1. This year, the "clients" planned for the baptisms perhaps did not occupy such high positions, but they were still three very important personalities in the WRC.

While the Rally1 drivers were doing their first run in the Loldia shakedown, Cyril Abiteboul, Jari-Matti Latvala and Richard Millener presented themselves dressed in a strange way. All three were indeed in suits and they were all wearing helmets. For the Finn and the English, this Sunday “costume” is not so unusual. The director of the TGR regularly competes in historic rallies with former Toyota. He is also currently pushing to have a Yaris in Finland in the WRC. The English team manager also practices once or twice a year behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta ST in regional events. For them, walking in the middle of the shakedown service park with this light outfit that doesn't hide much of your anatomy was almost natural. This was not really the case for the boss of Hyundai Motorsport. “ I thought the wetsuit was too big when I saw it... but ultimately I'm not swimming in it », smiled Cyril who did not display his usual confidence. These three leaders had not dressed up like this for a local carnival, but because they were going to serve as “co-pilot” to their own pilots: Elfyn Evans for Jari, Adrien fourmaux for Rich and Ott Tänak for Cyril.

Cyril « not even afraid » Abiteboul will long remember his shakedown with Ott Tänak (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

Each of them had already had one or more experiences with co-drive, but taking into account the comments after the few kilometers traveled (experienced?) alongside their "driver" of the day, it is absolutely clear that none expected what they had just experienced.

« It's controlled chaos, tried to synthesize Abiteboul while trying to stop the trembling of his hands. I wasn't afraid, because I had complete confidence in Ott. That didn't stop me from reflexively closing my eyes a few times. It's quite phenomenal what the car is capable of handling and the way in which it controls it, always focused on what presents itself. This was something I already had in mind, but now I'm convinced we need to try harder to show how crazy what they're doing is. »

« fools » is also the way Richard Millener described Adrien and Alex Coria when leaving the Puma. “ It's indescribable, continued the Englishman. This makes it easier to understand when a crew announces that they have broken something in Kenya. The stage was full of holes and bumps with stones everywhere and despite that Adrien pushed hard... it was violent. This shows the level these guys are playing at. »

Richard Millener did not expect to experience such sensations in Adrien Fourmaux's Puma (Photo: Loïc Rocci)

While these comments were fairly predictable coming from people who had never raced in the WRC, it was more surprising to hear Latvala say: “ I now know that I am a historic rally driver, he laughed. The commitment Elfyn put into every turn is impressive. We even hit a tree at the end. I will no longer be able to do the same. »

While the three leaders exchanged their opinions, recognizing that the experience had been incredible, only Cyril Abiteboul said he was ready for a 2^e round !