Braving tricky off-road terrain and scorching heat in Africa, the veteran driver was on Saturday in 29th place overall in the Kenya event, which is part of the World Rally Championship (WRC) circuit.
After day three of the 2021 Safari Rally, Zasada, who is driving a Ford Fiesta Rally 3, was 1 hour 53 minutes 32.9 seconds behind the leader.
Sobiesław Zasada. Photo: PAP/Grzegorz Momot
Belgian driver Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC) was in the lead, 57.4 seconds ahead of Japan’s second-placed Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota Yaris WRC), public broadcaster Polish Radio's IAR news agency reported.
France’s Sébastien Ogier (Toyota Yaris WRC) was third, 1 minute 15.5 seconds behind Neuville.
The fastest Polish driver, Daniel Chwist (Ford Fiesta Rally 2), who is Zasada's grandson, was 19th overall, 1 hour 15 minutes 43.5 seconds behind Neuville.
Zasada, who is the oldest competitor in the history of the World Rally Championship, is a three-time European rally champion and one of Poland’s most acclaimed drivers, with a career spanning nearly seven decades.
He took part in his first auto rally in 1952.
Zasada told reporters ahead of the Kenya rally that his main aim would be to "reach the end" of the four-day event, where he is competing against rivals almost 70 years his junior.
The Safari Rally ends in Kenya on Sunday.
(gs)
Source: IAR, polsatsport.pl, sportowefakty.wp.pl, france24.com