WATCH: Rally Car Veers Off, Almost Runs Over Spectator In Safari Rally

A spectator on Saturday, March 30 escaped an accident by a whisker during the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally after one of the participating cars encountered a muddy section which veered it off course.

The incident was captured in a video making rounds on social media where the car belonging to Toyota Gazoo Racing was drifting into the slightly muddy terrain and through a puddle of water.

Much to the cheers of the crowd, the driver appeared to have struggled to drift back onto the course to continue his run, sliding into the watching crowd which scattered when it was near them.

A woman however appeared to hesitate as the rest of the spectators took off, with her swift instinct making her dive towards the ground seemingly to avoid the car which reacted in time, missing her and recollecting its path as it drove off.

Here is the video:

Spectator escapes being run over by one of the rally cars which veered off course into a group of fans following the #WRCSafariRally2024 from the sidelines#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/zbIer8GFjB — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) March 30, 2024

The crowd nonetheless cheered loudly as the rally car continued with its run, appearing to forget the near-death experience that befell one of their own.

Many regulations will need to be followed and common sense as well as rules call for total obedience to the guidelines set by organizers.

Any areas marked as No-Go Zones should be avoided at all costs. Even though the Safari Rally thrills many and is perfect for raising adrenaline, disobeying this specific rule can lead to life-threatening consequences as the competing WRC cars travel at an extremely high speed.

There are marked spectator zones where rally enthusiasts enjoy the show. Whichever spectator zone you choose to stand in, make sure there is enough space to move freely as a few off-route movements are expected.

Most of these zones are sharp, dusty bends, so expect to breathe in some of the dust particles. It is therefore advisable to have a pair of glasses, a cap, and a mask to shield off dust and particles.

To watch the competition, choose elevated grounds or stand behind solid obstacles. Avoid areas like the inner parts of a curve as well as standing in front of trees, houses, or impassable obstacles.

The WRC rally cars have struggled under treacherous African conditions this year, compounded by the heavy rains witnessed across the country. Toyota and Hyundai have been the teams most affected by the conditions so far.

Elfyn Evans became the latest victim of the Safari Rally's unforgiving nature as he sunk from second to fifth overall after he was forced to stop and change a wheel during Saturday’s opening stage at Soysambu.

The Welshman, who had trailed his rally-leading Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovanperä by almost one minute overnight, pulled over 12.7km into the 29.32km stage to swap the rear-left wheel on his GR Yaris Rally1.

In doing so he lost almost two minutes, slipping to fifth while his closest championship rival Thierry Neuville – who topped the points standings coming into this rally – climbed to third in his Hyundai i20 N.

Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta inherited second overall while Rovanperä remained in the lead with a 55.6s cushion.

Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta in action during the WRC Safari Rally on March 30, 2024. /WRC