The final day of Safari Rally Kenya action is split either side of Lake Naivasha, with the awe-inspiring, event-ending Hell’s Gate powerstage to the south.
SS14/17 Loldia (7.04 miles)
SS14/17 takes the crews back close to the shakedown stage from Wednesday. One of the more European-type stages in nature, it’s quite similar to some Sardinian terrain with undulations and plenty of trees around.
The route snakes back and forth, almost coming back on itself on numerous occasions before finishing 300 meters from where it started. On paper – and on the map – it might look quite a straightforward stage. It’s not. There’s plenty in here to catch the unwary out.
SS16 Malewa (6.03 miles)
The only single-run stage apart from Thursday’s superspecial. Another real test for the tires with plenty of short straights and square corners on a very abrasive surface. The Pirellis will be worked really hard under braking and accelerating away from junctions and with two more stages to come, this will be uppermost in the drivers’ minds. One of the rougher stretches of road on the rally, Malewa will help provide a sting in the tail.
SS15/18 Hell’s Gate (6.37 miles)
I remember talking to Iain Campbell (one of the WRC task force members who has worked so hard to put Safari Rally Kenya together) after his initial recce of the route. Blown away by Africa and its stunning roads, it was this one that really took his breath away. It’s not hard to see why. It’s an epic and a worthy way to conclude top flight rallying’s return to Africa.
Photo: M-Sport
It starts with some steep, continual uphill hairpins run on a loose surface. Once onto the top of the hill it is completely flat. This is the widest stage of the rally, with lots of flowing crests into corners, looking back over the Kedong stage from Friday. All top-gear, flat-out stuff, it narrows and gets more technical towards the end before a very, very quick run to the line.
And wait until you see the finish – it’s a backdrop to rival the best of the best. Yes, Sardinia’s run down the back at Argentiera could be under threat as the season’s finest finale…
