NAIROBI, July 14: Briton Colin McRae eased to a comfortable win in the Safari Rally on Sunday, the 25th world championship victory of his career.

The Ford driver came home two minutes and 50.9 seconds ahead of Peugeot’s Finn Harri Rovanpera to set a new record for world championship triumphs, one ahead of Carlos Sainz and Tommi Makinen.

McRae hit the front after Makinen experienced problems early on Saturday and eventually retired his Subaru because of a broken shock absorber.

McRae, who opted for caution on the demanding public gravel roads across the Kenyan plains once in front, admitted his Ford team had devised the perfect tactics.

McRae’s victory, his second of the season following success in Greece last month, moved him to second in the world championship standings behind Finn Marcus Gronholm.

Swede Thomas Radstrom claimed the final podium position on Citroen’s maiden outing in the Kenya-based event, but he was more than 18 minutes behind Rovanpera.

Ford’s Estonian Markko Martin came home fourth after his hopes of a podium finish were ended when he picked up 11 minutes and 30 seconds in penalties after leaving service late when his car failed to start following a cam belt change.—Reuters