TOYOTA CELICA WINS SAFARI RALLY
FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR

In the Safari Rally, two Celica Twin Cam Turbo entries by Toyota Team Europe and supported by Toyota Motor Corporation, conquered the world's toughest competitors to take first and second in this prestige event. This also marks the second straight year Toyota has won the overall Safari Rally.

The winning Celica was mounted with a 4T-GT type engine, specially modified for the race to give it 326 ps. The car is a high-performance Group B rally machine with a strengthened body, suspension and differential.

The 5,190-kilometer Safari Rally was even tougher this year as heavy rains made the notoriously bad roads even worse. Of the 71 cars that started, only 20 finished the grinding race. The lead changed hands several times, but the Celica Twin Cam Turbo driven by the winner Mr. Juha Kankkunen maintained a leading position over all legs. Taking full advantage of the speed and durability of the car, Kankkunen moved into top position on the third leg and drove his way from there to his much-acclaimed victory.

Quotes

I am happy to know that Toyota Team Europe took both first and second this year, especially after having been victorious last year. Weather conditions were harsh, and more drivers retired from the race and ran into more troubles than last year. I think victory was largely due to consistent control practiced over each leg of the race.

Mr. Kiyoshi Matsumoto,

 Executive Vice President

 of Toyota Motor Corporation

The Celica and the Rally itself were both fantastic. My navigator Fred and I had both entered the Safari Rally for the first time and didn't expect to win.

We set a pace that would place us in third position, and our strategy was to move up gradually from there. Having been able to win the Rally is like a dream. Other than the trouble we had with the rear shock absorber in the final leg of the race, there were no technical problems at all with our Celica Twin Cam Turbo. We are extremely happy that we entered the race as members of the finest team.

Mr. Juha Kankkunen,

 First place driver

I am very happy that I was able to enter the Safari Rally again this year with a Toyota Celica and to place so well. The first leg of the race demanded much faster speeds than last year, and we were forced in the second and third legs to run on muddy roads, although for us the muddy roads posed no particular problem. Our team coped pretty well with all aspects of the race's changing conditions.

Mr. Bjoern Waldegaard,

 Second place driver