Drivers call for 'old-style' Safari

In recent years, despite retaining its open road format, the Safari has moved closer in style to a European-type rally, with shorter legs and centralised servicing. A single day's competitive mileage on the Safari is still greater than the total stage miles on any other WRC round, but the 'sprint' format has resulted in higher speeds as drivers need to think less of conserving their machinery and tyres.

Now, several top stars have suggested that longer sections and fewer service halts will cut speeds and bring back the rally's unique character. Sections of up to 400kms - twice the current length - with intermediate tyre and fuel stops have been mooted, as has a ban on pre-event recceing in order to put the emphasis back on the co-driver's interpretation of the official road book.

"I think it would be quite sensible," said Subaru ace Richard Burns. "You could have just two or three sections a day, with just one or two team members in charge of the refuelling halfway through. If a local expert wrote safety notes for the stages it wouldn't have to be dangerous. Speeds would be slower, which would actually make the event safer."

Ford's Colin McRae added: "I suggested doing the rally on the road book. If you do away with the recce, speeds come down a lot. Over the years this rally has become more European. It's got much too fast and it's getting dangerous for us and spectators."

Burns added that an old-style marathon would add an extra dimension to the championship, saying: "Modern world rallies are sprints these days, whereas historically the Safari isn't."

But Tommi Makinen, who won this year's rally and also pioneered the all-out attack mode that is now the norm for the event, cautioned his fellow drivers over reducing speeds.

"They try to decrease speeds, but I think it doesn't really work," said the world championship points-leader. "Speeds are high, but this is rallying."

Works team bosses have agreed with a revamp in principle, but Subaru team principal David Lapworth commented: "It should still keep the three-day format with central servicing, in order to cut costs."

But while the rally remains key to the image and the history of the WRC, the sport's TV and commercial boss David Richards hinted that the largely amateur-staffed event could not rest on its laurels.

"They need to have a professional staff," he said. "They can't continue to rely on a bunch of enthusiastic volunteers. It can only succeed if there's a commitment on the ground to make it succeed."