Last season, Munster was often labelled as an underdog in the WRC, but in Monte Carlo and Sweden, he showed glimpses of his speed. Although his points tally has not increased as expected, his improved stage times have boosted his confidence.
In Monte Carlo, his rally ended in a crash on the final day, but before that, Munster had managed to secure his first-ever stage win in the WRC. In Sweden, he finished eighth, though it is clear that snow remains a relatively unfamiliar surface for him.
The WRC season continues this week in Kenya, where Munster has competed twice before, though both attempts ended in retirement. With a measured approach, however, he could have a say in the ever-unpredictable event.
“I’m really looking forward to Safari Rally Kenya, it’s probably my favourite event on the calendar, just because you experience things there that you don’t see anywhere else – not only with the wildlife but also with the tricky conditions,” Munster explains.
“The heavy rain can be really intense, and the terrain is always changing so you have to pick a small track in the middle of tall grass fields which really adds to the character of the event.”
Despite the tough conditions, Munster hopes for a clean and solid performance this time around.
“I’m really looking forward to the challenge. I think we are well prepared with the team and we had a good pre-event test in Greystoke, so we just want to do well in Kenya and get a strong result.”
The Safari Rally kicks off with a shakedown on Wednesday. Thursday will feature the first two competitive stages. In total, the rally consists of 21 special stages covering approximately 383 kilometres.
