Porsche racing history · 1971–1978
Porsche 911 Safari: The East African Safari Rally 911s
By CarWhere Research · Updated
"911 Safari" refers to the works 911s Porsche ran in Kenya's East African Safari Rally, an event of about 5,000 km. A 911 S finished fifth in 1971. Björn Waldegård took second in 1974 in a Carrera RS 2.7, and in 1978 two 250 hp 911 SC Safaris finished second (Vic Preston Jr.) and fourth (Waldegård).
The East African Safari Rally ran about 5,000 km through Kenya's savanna, scrubland and highlands, with river crossings, mud and dust, and few cars reached the finish. Porsche first entered it with a works team in 1971, using modified 911 S models. The best of them, a Polish-crewed car driven by Sobiesław Zasada and Marian Bień, finished fifth.
In 1974 Björn Waldegård led for much of the event in a 911 Carrera RS 2.7 before a damaged wishbone cost him 72 minutes, and he finished second. Porsche's last attempt came in 1978 with two purpose-built 911 SC Safari cars in Martini colors, developed by Roland Kussmaul: raised, armored and run with a service operation that included a chartered plane. Vic Preston Jr. finished second, 37 minutes behind the winner, and Waldegård was fourth. Those cars are the reason the modern 911 Dakar can be ordered with Safari-era rally liveries.
911 Safari history, year by year
- 1971 — Porsche enters the Safari Rally with a works team for the first time, running modified 911 S models; Zasada / Bień finish fifth in car number 19.[1],[2]
- 1974 — Waldegård / Thorszelius lead in a 911 Carrera 2.7 RS and start the final section 36 minutes ahead; a damaged wishbone costs 72 minutes, and they finish second. Only 16 of 99 starters finish.[1],[3]
- 1978 — Porsche fields two 911 SC Group 4 cars built for the event, in Martini livery; Waldegård is the reigning Safari winner from 1977.[1],[3]
- 1978 — Vic Preston Jr. / John Lyall (number 14) finish second, 37 minutes behind Jean-Pierre Nicolas's Peugeot 504; Waldegård / Thorszelius finish fourth. Only 13 of 72 cars are classified.[3],[4]
- 1984 — Porsche's off-road rally story continues with the 911-based Paris-Dakar winner; Roland Kussmaul, who built the Safari cars, is responsible for the cars.[3],[5]
- 2023 — Porsche offers decal sets for the 911 Dakar that reprise the 1971, 1974 and 1978 Safari Rally cars.[1]
How many 911 Safaris were made?
| Model / variant | Years | Units | What the figure counts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 911 SC Safari (works rally cars) | 1978 | 2[1] | Porsche says two 911 SC Group 4 cars were custom-built for the 1978 Safari Rally. It does not publish a car count for the 1971 or 1974 entries. |
Road-car totals for every Porsche model: Porsche production numbers.
Porsche 911 Safari specs
| Engine (1978 911 SC Safari) | Type 911/77 air-cooled flat-six, naturally aspirated[3] |
|---|---|
| Displacement | 2,994 cc (bore x stroke 95 x 70.4 mm)[3],[4] |
| Power | 250 hp (184 kW) at 6,800 rpm[3],[4] |
| Torque | 300 Nm at 5,500 rpm[4] |
| Transmission | Modified Type 915 five-speed with differential lock and extra oil cooler[3] |
| Weight | 1,180 kg unladen[3],[4] |
| Ground clearance | 28 cm[3],[4] |
| Top speed | 210 km/h[4] |
| Protection and equipment | 6 mm aluminum underbody guard, armored rear trailing arms, roll cage, two spare wheels, 110-liter fuel tank[3] |
| 1974 car | 911 Carrera 2.7 RS (Waldegård / Thorszelius)[1] |
911 Safari race results and wins
| Year | Event | Result | Car / drivers |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | East African Safari Rally | 5th overall[1],[2] | 911 S, #19 — Sobiesław Zasada / Marian Bień |
| 1974 | East African Safari Rally | 2nd overall[1],[3] | 911 Carrera 2.7 RS — Björn Waldegård / Hans Thorszelius |
| 1978 | East African Safari Rally | 2nd overall[1],[3] | 911 SC Safari, #14 — Vic Preston Jr. / John Lyall |
| 1978 | East African Safari Rally | 4th overall[3],[4] | 911 SC Safari, #5 — Björn Waldegård / Hans Thorszelius |
What made the 911 Safari significant
- In 1978 Porsche was the only team to get both of its cars to the finish of the Safari Rally.[4]
- The 1978 car was developed by Roland Kussmaul, who later looked after the 911 and 959 that won the Paris-Dakar Rally.[3]
- Porsche never won the Safari overall: its best results were second places in 1974 and 1978.[2]
- The 911 Dakar's optional Rallye Design Package references the 1984 Paris-Dakar winner, while separate Porsche decal sets reprise the 1971, 1974 and 1978 Safari cars.[1],[5]
The 911 Safari and Porsche's road cars
The Porsche 911 Safari was built to race. For the road cars that share its engineering, history and factory records, start here:
Porsche 911 Safari FAQ
What is the Porsche 911 Safari?
It is the name for the works 911s Porsche entered in Kenya's East African Safari Rally in the 1970s, most famously the two 911 SC Safari cars of 1978.
Did Porsche ever win the Safari Rally?
No. A 911 finished fifth in 1971, Björn Waldegård was second in a Carrera RS 2.7 in 1974, and in 1978 Vic Preston Jr. finished second and Waldegård fourth in 911 SC Safaris.
How powerful was the 1978 911 SC Safari?
Its 2,994 cc Type 911/77 flat-six made 250 hp at 6,800 rpm. The car weighed 1,180 kg and had 28 cm of ground clearance.
How many 911 SC Safari cars did Porsche build?
Porsche says two 911 SC Group 4 cars were custom-built for the 1978 rally, one each for Waldegård and Preston.
How is the 911 Safari related to the 911 Dakar?
The 911 Dakar's Rallye Design Package is based on the 1984 Paris-Dakar winner. Porsche also offers decal sets for the 911 Dakar that reprise the 1971, 1974 and 1978 Safari Rally cars, including the 1978 Martini design with Preston's number 14.
Related Porsche race cars and specials
Porsche history, specs and production research
Sources
Dates, production counts, specifications and results on this page come from the sources below. Where sources disagree, the page says so or uses Porsche's own figure.
- Historic decorative wraps for the 911 Dakar — Porsche Newsroom
- How the 911 became all-wheel drive (911 Dakar press kit: the history) — Porsche Newsroom
- 5,000 kilometres, 37 minutes — Porsche Newsroom
- Beyond good and evil — Porsche Newsroom
- The new Porsche 911 Dakar — Porsche Newsroom
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