Juha Kankkunen's Safari Rally Memories

Juha Kankkunen and George Donaldson sat down to chat all things safari. Want to see more? Let us know!
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[@charlesTOGB]

juha Kankkunen always remembered

[@harunmwangi8135]

Child hood hero in Kenya 💯🇰🇪🇫🇮

[@piuthemagicman]

😊😊 Greetings from Finland, love Kenya ❤

[@shambaibula6122]

I was very young back then. Probably 6yrs old but that name "Juha", as we pronounced it used to resonate throughout the entire event. Such a great legend!

[@siviunative5241]

Rally legend. Kenya safari rally was legendary back then.

[@harrisonmbugua5337]

Juha kankuneni very famous name in Kenya. A true legend of rallying and a common name in the 80 & 90s in Kenya. I remember him in 1985 his debut in a Toyota Celica great performance. Age has caught up with him now. Am sure he can't give these Yaris sticks the way he used. Thanks legend for coming back home

[@Mushki911]

Is George Donaldson a Kenyan?? His pronunciation of the names of the Kenyan town is absolutely spot on. I laughed at the comment about Sirikwa Hotel....someone send Juha there now, it's changed and improved alot since 30yrs ago! Lovely interview which brings back fond memories.

[@jarrod1766]

He spent a lot of time in Kenya. Though it is odd he gets these names more right than WRC drivers like Ott, Neuville

[@jeffitachi2589]

Juha the myth the legend.He was one of my dad's favorite rally driver back in the days.🇰🇪👏

[@mugabemuhwezi2850]

Donaldson loves the safari rally passionately

[@edisonpetter]

Flat out years. Great drivers and co-drivers. Strong cars.

[@vokelvo]

What an absolute legend! the distance they covered in Safari alone (copetitive and non competitive) is essentially a whole WRC season in the current setup ... madness

[@GT-Diaries]

The legend himself, always rooted for him during the Safari Rallys. Always flat out.

[@t0n0k0]

Juha Kankkunen one of the names we all knew in rallying true legend. Always welcome back to Kenya. 🇰🇪

[@RT-dw3iz]

It had to be hard for him to keep saying "yeah,yeah,yes,yes..."for 13 minutes. Great driver.The best time.

[@mbogokuria6826]

Great to see the great Safari Rally Legend Juha Kankunen. He was navigated by Fred Gallagher the two were phenomenal racing against Shekhar Meta, Colin McRae, Bjorn Waldegarred, Carlos Sainz etc

[@jamesowuor8804]

Fred Galagher was Waldegards navigator. .. Kankunen's navigator was Juha Pironen

[@max27stoner]

@@jamesowuor8804Piironen that is*

[@max27stoner]

@@jamesowuor8804+ Gallagher and Waldegård

[@bellaolum9768]

Umesahau Joginder Singh, even toddlers knew that name 😂😂😂

[@mosca3289]

Juha looking good! Great reminiscences.

[@harunmwangi8135]

Legend

[@Mushki911]

Lovely. Very nostalgic too. Lovely memories of the old Safari.

[@mresoterick3928]

Oh yes! The legend Juha ! Good to see him back in Kenya!

[@CKPete]

Juha Kankunnen, Bjorn Waldegaart, Miki Biason, Kirkland, Anu Mikola wow… Good Kenya back then. We had sooo little but our hearts were made richer by these legends exploits! Thank you Safari Rally Kenya.

[@peterkairu4705]

Mzee Kirkland 👌a very nice boss

[@redpixels8609]

carlo senz and lois moya🤣🤣

[@max27stoner]

You almost got the names right 😂. They’re Juha Kankkunen, Björn Waldegård, Massimo ”Miki” Biasion and Hannu Mikkola. Kirkland (Mike) was at least correct 👍

[@CKPete]

@@max27stoner eh eh eh…hii majina ilikuja na meli. All names CORRECT but SPELLING ndio chida kidogo 😎

[@bellaolum9768]

Yeah those were the days ❤

[@stephendinnes2568]

i met juha in 1997at the festival of speed goodwood when tony pond drove my 6R4 . i was in service with my metro he walked up to the car looked round the car and said to me this car is to fast . he was driving a ford for malcom wilson who just after won the ford contract . we lost tony pond a few months later

[@Neilcapri]

Yes I was there as well, I have a picture of malcom talking to Tony standing next to the white metro 6r4 in the paddock. I can't remember if I asked Tony pond for an autograph. And met juha for a picture and autograph for the first time as well. Back for goodwood 2023 and taken picture of jarri matti latvala and juha together made my day.

[@april7_]

No wonder car is tough to last! My summer car, historic 1990 Celica ST182 daily driver in summer times! Same body but 2WD (front). Juha is a legend, truly legend!

[@jamesowuor8804]

Juha Kankunen, Miki Biason, Waldegard, Mike Kirkland, Eric Toph, George Recalde, Carlos Sainz, Vic Preston.. among the names that made the rally tick

[@peterkairu4705]

Kirkland good boss

[@donbrashsux]

A WRC Great !! Drove the wheels off the Toyotas

[@nadernezamdiba2797]

Juha kankkunen und Ari Vatatnen sie waren legenden 🙂👍!

[@martino6205]

Juha Kankunnen should register for the next Classic Safari.

[@franciswaweru1071]

Collin Mac Rae observed that the first competitive section from Nairobi through machakos ,Mwala to Kajiado was 180 Km Equivalent to the whole competitive distance in a whole European rally that year! That's what made the safari the rally of it's kind Can we somehow get this back I

[@styleemusic]

My childhood living in Nairobi at the time, legend!!!it’s amazing how much mileage they did. I later in life owned a celica GT from 91 and when I sold it it had over 200k miles and still running well. They built them much better then.

[@donswier]

What a duo. George & Juha. George adds so much perspective to the Dirtfish Spin podcasts. Never miss an episode.

[@hurri7720]

One of the best, a nice and honest guy too.

[@cesarbarbosa1154]

Fantastic video with Mr Kankkunen and the rally encyclopedia George Donaldson. Such knowledgeable individual and a great storyteller. Congrats Dirtfish for having such talented people in your team!

[@01FozzyS]

Legend.

[@ALHEALY9110]

Juha!! ❤️❤️

[@aneilpatel2423]

Legendary Rallies and Driver then, Rally Sprint now, Dirtfish thanks !

[@vickestr794]

Thanks very much to George and Juha for sharing this. Legends.

[@abdulkarimyusuf9389]

Mr George, Mr Juha was simba.but you are the Gem 💎 coz the way you explain and present,anyone can fill those days of great Safari.hongera.

[@susanmathai2266]

Great conversation. I remember Kankunnen and the Cecilica. We watched avidly seated on bonnets of our family cars and ticking the scorecards as the reports came in. Fills me with nostalgia.🎉🎉🎉

[@bellaolum9768]

Yeah that was cool❤

[@applestoori300]

The best channel for world rally safari,I could not manage to go but i got the best coverage,Dirtfish thumbs up

[@toppojalka2098]

this is gold. thanks!

[@kbdiesel]

Love the content George!

[@bellaolum9768]

Wow i remember this guy, from my childhood. The Flying Finn, such a legend! EA Safari Rally was the event to watch every Easter holidays ❤

[@KarisMN]

My favourite driver from the era. He won the Safari Rally at his first go (his first WRC win as well) in a Toyota Celica Twincam Turbo which really stuck with me. How the rally has changed over the years.

[@janelavie4115]

Legendary times, legendary champion.

[@willcowell8197]

What a legend, you can tell he loves Kenya and loves the safari rally! The safari spec celica st185, possibly the strongest toughest rally car ever!

[@ShutUpBubi]

One of my favorite Rally Drivers by far its only fitting this be uploaded the same day I decide to watch some more of his prowess behind the wheel :)

[@kUNCHRIS]

The passion for safari can clearly be seen in their conversations… I remember waiting for all the cars in elburgon as kid .. those long stages were the definition of the safari . Great memories

[@livingstonemasika4178]

Welcome Living legend Mr.Juha kankunen, surprise winner of Marlboro safari rally .The yester rallies were 4 times longer than this year's event. Competing at night and day required heart's that had endurance, patience, sharp skills in driving and navigation, and love of sport. Once the crews were time barred or broke down they were disqualified ! This real hurt many fans, learning their favorites were disqualified.

[@user-wl6vk8kd1w]

Old 3 country safari rallies were awesome

[@ericthuku9731]

Safari Rally during his days, was hellacious, wow....the sheer length of those routes, Wow..

[@indianbirder]

The legend is back in Kenya.

[@kodhealfayoaruwa9197]

Wonderful memories.

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

I remember when Rauno Aaltonen designed a Mini Cooper S to do the East Africa Safari Rally, in 1960's. Even installed a hydrolasic pump on it's back seat to change ride height! He didn't finish, DNF'd. 😁👍

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Rauno Aaltonen - 'We retired because dust got into the carburetors and caused over heating and then headgasket failure'. From the man himself in 2018.

[@cal91bck]

The distances must've been excruciating

[@franciswaweru1071]

I remember Michelle Mouton's comments at the start of 85 safari rally saying the the Toyotas of Kankunnen and Warldegard look so strong and impossible to beat Rember she drove the audi quattro gp B Which had conquered Europe How right she was

[@ranjitsian5481]

Nice 👍

[@redpixels8609]

oooooh my G i was 13 yrs , used to go to check point, it wasn't restricted

[@GroupBEJ25]

One of my favorite drivers. It’s funny my mom who is she 69 she just mentioned to me Juhan was one of her favorite rally drivers together with Joginder Singh

[@peterkaburu885]

And we used listen on the radio to know where they have reached and only our budas could switch on the wooden box 😂😂😂

[@franciswaweru1071]

Shekar Metha in the same year 85 comments refered to Kankunnen as a boy who had hardly shaved his first beard ,but won the rally

[@huwzebediahthomas9193]

Modern rally cars - roller skates with wings, with a hybrid electro box.

[@zwjna]

Modern rally cars - fastest, strongest, most spectacular cars ever.

[@RallyeRacin9]

In comparison today's safari is just ridiculous.

[@Opuscus]

Why do you need that obnoxious dumdum music? It is exciting to hear a legend recounting those wonderful times. Please don't ruin it.

[@Jahangirsmirza]

Why call the driver on the show while you know evrythng .

[@GeorgeDonaldsonsti]

He is so knowledgeable and loves to discuss and share with fans. He is also super to chat to. I think he offered some interesting perspectives 🙂🙂