There was a time, many years ago now, when long stages were the norm in the World Rally Championship. Cars, drivers and navigators were pushed to the limits of what they could take.
The good old days, right?
Perhaps. Or perhaps not, that’s all open to interpretation – but what is certain is that, today, the sort of stages many rally fans grew up watching in awe are few and far between.
It is therefore for this reason that fans and competitors alike approach arduous special stages with the sort of enthusiasm that Thierry Neuville’s co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe does.
On Rally Italy Sardinia earlier this month, which the pair won, the mammoth Monte Lerno test – at 31 miles in length – was the major talking point during the opening day.
Running twice on an incredibly challenging pair of loops, it demanded far more of the crew, the car and the Pirelli tires than any single stage had managed all year.
For Wydaeghe, it was the challenge he had craved, and one which he reckons will serve as a useful learning experience ahead of this weekend’s Safari Rally Kenya.
“Yes, [it was] challenging but this is what I like and that is why I also like Kenya which is the next event,” Wydaeghe explained.
“[It has] long stages [that are] challenging, you need to stay focused for a very long time and try to give a good rhythm to the driver.
“This is the challenge and I like it.
“You can prepare as much as you want, but you will still have surprises.
“The roadbook looks exactly the same as last year, but we already know that the stages will be different because of the ever-changing weather conditions. The profile is unlike anything else; the mix of the fesh-fesh and the rocky terrain creates a completely different rally.
“This is why it’s important to adapt to the changing speeds – the surface has such varied characteristics. The most challenging stage is probably Sleeping Warrior as it’s the longest, making it harder to get into a consistent rhythm.”
Rallying cynics may scoff at the Kenya route when they see the total rally length – which pales in comparison to the 3000-odd mile, seven leg, proper marathon of the late 1980s – but the challenge undoubtedly remains.
Rather than excessively long stages, the new stages are potential car breakers which require technique, concentration, good pacenotes and heads-up driving to avoid any of the numerous pitfalls along the way.
Wydaeghe and Neuville are painfully aware of how it feels to lose victory on this tough event, but that’ll only spur them on more to finish top of the pile on a rally Wydaeghe will be loving from the right-hand seat.
