Panizzi out to erase memories on the Safari.

Tarmac-specialist Gilles Panizzi will be looking to exorcise his Safari Rally demons when the 2002 Inmarsat-backed event gets underway on July 11th.

He will drive one of four Peugeot 206 World Rally Cars tended by the giant French manufacturer.

Panizzi, 36, struggled, then retired, on his first crack at the challenging Kenyan event in 2000, but, crucially, was fined $50,000 for physically attacking another driver, who had inadvertently held him up on a stage.

The Frenchman has already won two world rally events this season but isn't likely to be gunning for outright honours in Kenya, given his limited experience. His twin-brother, Herve, will navigate as usual.

Reigning World Champion Richard Burns looks good for a third Safari triumph while the current global series leader, Finland's Marcus Gronholm, is hoping his poor run on the famed African classic comes to an end. Gronholm's compatriot Harri Rovanpera drives the third manufacturer-registered car.

The French team has been on a roll lately winning four of the last six world championship rounds in some style. Were it not for disqualifications in Argentina, that figure would read five-out-of-six. It's been 24 years, though, since they last won the Safari, but with drivers of such pedigree as Messrs. Burns, Gronholm and Rovanpera that may well change this year.

Burns has always looked comfortable here, winning the event in 1998 and 2000, and should be Peugeot's top dog. The 36-year-old Rovanpera was impressive last year, enroute to a promising second place finish. He, too, should figure strongly.