The dust has risen, engines are revving, and the scene is prepared—the Safari Rally Kenya returns, setting the stage for an action-packed weekend filled with heart-pounding excitement, intense competitions, and all-out racing frenzy.
Among the toughest and least predictable stages in the World Rally Championship (WRC), the Safari Rally continues to be an extreme trial of stamina, velocity, and resilience.
Flagged off in Nairobi by President William Ruto on Thursday, the rally moves into its challenging stages today as competitors tackle Naivasha’s tough landscape, which will truly test their skills.
The 2025 WRC season continues with its third round following the events in Monte Carlo from January 23-26 and Sweden from February 13-16, introducing new dynamics, exciting feuds, and an uncertain fight for dominance this year.
The roots of the Safari Rally go back to 1953, when it was initially organized to celebrate the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1973, it was incorporated into the WRC and continued until 2002 when a lengthy break led to its demotion to the African Rally Championship (ARC) status.
Following almost twenty years of anticipation from Kenyan rally enthusiasts, it made a comeback into the WRC series in 2021, swiftly regaining its position as the crowd’s favorite.
Famous for its harsh environment, the Safari Rally is typically referred to as the supreme challenge in rallying—an intense combination of fast stretches and variable climate conditions.
In 2022, this event solidified its position as the most-viewed segment of the World Rally Championship calendar, drawing an impressive audience of 85 million spectators from approximately 170 nations around the globe.
The 2025 version will include 11 stages covering a total of 384 competitive kilometers. The drivers began with a 4.76 km Super Special stage at Kasarani, followed by the Mzabibu stage which was 8.15 km long, and then moved on to the Camp Moran stage measuring 32.20 km.
The remaining stages consist of; Loldia (19.11km), Geothermal (13.12km), Kedong (15.10km), Sleeping Warriors (26.88km), Elementaita (17.31km), Soysambu (29.32km), Oserengoni (18.33km), and Hell’s Gate (10.53km).
Today’s activities will involve cars circulating through Camp Moran, Loldia, Geothermal, and Kedong twice before concluding for the day.
On Saturday, the competition includes routes through Sleeping Warrior, Elementaita, and Soysambu. The following day, Sunday, competitors will tackle courses in Oserengoni, Hell's Gate, Mzabibu, and Oserengoni once more, concluding with the last stage and awards ceremony held at Hell's Gate.
The two new stages of the Safari Rally offer some intense battles and thrills for the fans. Mzabibu, set near Naivasha town, offers fantastic vantage points for fans, with tight, technical farm roads set to test the drivers’ handling skills.
Perched atop the cliffs of the Great Rift Valley, Camp Moran promises to be a stern examination of your pace and stamina, with its rugged boulders, steep descents, and swift leaps.
Featuring 12 specially marked viewing areas and an enlarged Rally Village, spectators will have unprecedented proximity to the excitement, observing as WRC’s top drivers tackle some of the most challenging rallying scenarios worldwide.
We have improved communication regarding the spectator zones, ensuring that attendees clearly understand their locations and timings. This time around, I'm confident everyone knows exactly where and when they can enter these areas.
This year, we've expanded the number of viewing zones where spectators can be nearer to the drivers.
"Additionally, we've created a rally village where spectators can fully enjoy watching the cars navigate through the stages and view the event unfold on screens," stated Event Director Norris Ongalo.
This year, the FIA has authorized 33 vehicles for participation in the Rally. The team to watch out for is Toyota Gazoo Racing, as they have been dominant at the Safari Rally ever since it rejoined the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2021.
In 2021, Sébastien Ogier from France recorded a time of 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 11.3 seconds to secure an overall win, followed closely by his compatriot Takamoto Katsuta from Japan who finished at 3 hours, 18 minutes, and 33.1 seconds. Rounding out the podium was Ott Tänak from Hyundai with a total time of 3 hours, 19 minutes, and 20.8 seconds.
In the 2022 Safari Rally, Toyota dominated the podium with Kalle Rovanperä leading the way after completing the race in 3 hours, 40 minutes, and 24.9 seconds. England’s Elfyn Evans secured second place at 3 hours, 41 minutes, and 17.7 seconds, followed closely by Takamoto finishing third at 3 hours, 42 minutes, and 07.6 seconds.
In the 2023 edition, Toyota once more dominated the podium as Ogier secured his second championship win with a time of 3:30:42.5, followed closely by Rovanperä at 3:30:49.2 and Evans finishing third at 3:33:41.0.
Last year, Rovanperä emerged victorious with a time of 3:36:04.0. Takamoto secured second place at 3:37:41.8, followed by Adrien Fourmaux from M-Sport Ford in third at 3:38:29.1.
In preparation for the 2025 edition, Toyota Gazoo Racing plans to field defending champion Rovanperä alongside his co-driver Jonne Halttunen. Joining them will be Evans with Scott Martin as his navigator, followed by Takamoto paired up with Aaron Johnston. Completing their lineup is the team’s youngest driver, Sami Pajari, who will navigate with Marko Salminen.
During a previous discussion with The Star, Rovanpera stated his intention to defend his championship and achieve a hat-trick on Kenyan territory driving his Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1.
"We've claimed victory multiple times before, and we aim to succeed once more. Although this rally isn't among the simplest to win, we'll strive for our best performance," stated Rovanpera.
This is among the toughest rallies this season. The circumstances are extremely challenging, yet it holds great significance for both myself and Toyota. I'm really looking forward to participating.
Rovanperä thinks Toyota might prolong its supremacy on Kenyan ground yet stays cautious about the Safari Rally’s inherent uncertainty.
"We will be as strong as we were before, but you can never tell with Safari; it's incredibly unpredictable. We're definitely going to face tough competition," he stated.
Takamoto Katsuta thinks he has made significant enhancements and looks forward to delivering a robust performance in Kenya.
"This year, I've enhanced my driving technique; since I came in second place in Sweden, I'm hoping to perform even better here in Kenya," Takamoto stated.
In his fifth participation at the Safari Rally, Katsuta mirrored Rovanperä's views, highlighting the entire squad's shared goals.
“I’m glad to return here! This is my fifth time competing in the Safari Rally, and our aim is to secure a strong result for Toyota,” he stated.
Although this is his inaugural participation in the Safari Rally, the 23-year-old Pajari feels no stress. "It’s my first go at the Safari Rally, which brings new excitement with varying conditions from those I’m accustomed to," he stated. "However, the landscape here is beautiful, offering an enjoyable test. I'm ready for whatever comes."
After the events in Monte Carlo and Sweden, Toyota now tops the manufacturer’s rankings with 120 points, leading the championship standings.
Hyundai (72 points) holds the second position, followed closely by M-Sport Ford (25 points), which ranks third. In terms of individual rankings, Evans leads with 61 points, trailed by Ogier (33 points) in second place and Rovanperä (31 points) in third.
Nevertheless, the current WRC champion Thierry Neuville from Hyundai aims to put an end to Toyota’s supremacy and secure his first championship title at the Safari Rally.
Neuville secured his first World Rally Championship title last year with 242 points, beating out Evans (210 points) and Tanak (200 points).
NeuVILLE stated his aim for a impressive performance during the weekend to challenge Toyota, who has been leading so far.
My objective for the Safari Rally season this year is to emerge victorious," Neuville stated. "This weekend, I feel we must deliver our best performance. It’s crucial to stay robust as our aim is to surpass Toyota. However, we recognize that they have consistently shown remarkable strength at this rally in previous years.
The incorporation of Fourmax into Hyundai’s 2025 strategy will play a key role in their efforts to challenge Toyota.
The squad opted for a permanent driver, and having someone like Adrian, who showed significant improvement last year, is highly valuable. Bringing Adrian onboard was a wise decision as he has added considerable worth to the team.
Hyundai’s roster features Tanak, paired with co-driver Martin Jarveoja. Competing against them are notable entries from Ford headed by Joshua McErlean alongside co-driver Eoin Treacy, as well as Gregoire Munster with co-driver Louis Louka, and Jourdan Serderidis teamed up with navigator Frederic Michotte.
Carl "Flash" Tundo, a five-time winner of the Safari Rally, will lead the local team aiming for a spot on the podium in the WRC2 class.
I continue to feel competitive, as the younger drivers are rising through the ranks impressively," Tundo stated. "However, my aim remains to secure a spot on the WRC2 podium and triumph in the ARC.
The seasoned driver emphasized his strong affection for the Safari Rally. "This marks my 24th participation in the Safari Rally. Over the years, I've emerged victorious five times and secured the KNRC championship eight times. The rally holds a special place in my heart," he remarked additionally.
The current African Rally Champion and three-time winner of the Safari Rally, Karan Patel, along with his co-driver Tauseef Khan, aims to leverage this year's event as a launchpad for successfully defending their Africa Rally Championship title.
"We aim to defend our ARC title, which would result in us winning it for the third time in a row," Tauseef stated. Rally national champion Samaan Singh, with navigator Drew Sturrock in a Skoda Fabia Evo RC2, are resolved to leave last year’s setback behind them.
"It’s an incredibly special moment following our victory at the National Rally last year. Since facing an unfortunate incident during last year’s Safari Rally, we’ve returned stronger and more prepared than ever for 2025," stated Samaan.
"After our unfortunate incident at last year's Rally, we've returned stronger and more prepared than ever for the Safari Rally in 2025, and we're set to take off," Samaan stated.
In contrast, Hamza Anwar finds motivation in his patriotic feelings as he gears up for the challenging Safari Rally course.
"It has required tremendous effort, and I am immensely proud of my family, friends, and the nation for providing me with this opportunity. We are aiming for exceptional outcomes," Anwar stated.
Nikhil Sachania, a paraplegic racer, is mounting an impressive resurgence aiming for a WRC3 podium spot following last year's severe accident that destroyed his vehicle during the Super Special Stage at Kasarani.
The resilient driver, who will be behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta Rally3 with his trusted navigator Deep Patel, is eager to make a statement.
"Our objective for this year is to secure a spot on the podium in WRC 3. Although we are still adapting to the vehicle, we have faith in our capability to deliver a impressive showing," Sachania stated.
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