High-speed drama as safari rally rocks 'Vasha'

The dust is up, the engines are roaring and the stage is set—the Safari Rally Kenya is back, promising a weekend of pure adrenaline, high-stakes battles and motorsport mayhem.

One of the most gruelling and unpredictable legs of the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar, the Safari Rally remains a brutal test of endurance, speed and survival.

Flagged off in Nairobi by President William Ruto on Thursday, the rally charges into its competitive stages today, with Naivasha’s punishing terrain ready to separate boys from men.

This year’s edition—the third round of the 2025 WRC season after Monte Carlo (January 23-26) and Sweden (February 13-16)—brings new twists, fresh rivalries and an unpredictable battle for supremacy.

The Safari Rally traces its origins back to 1953, when it was first held in honour of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

It became part of the WRC in 1973, running until 2002 before a long hiatus saw it downgraded to the African Rally Championship (ARC).

After nearly two decades of longing from Kenyan rally fans, it roared back into the WRC circuit in 2021, immediately reclaiming its status as fans’ favourite.

Known for its extreme conditions, the Safari Rally is often described as the ultimate test in rallying—a punishing mix of high-speed straights and unpredictable weather.

In 2022, it cemented itself as the most-watched leg of the WRC season, attracting a staggering 85 million viewers across 170 countries.

The 2025 edition will feature 11 stages stretching across 384 competitive kilometres. Drivers started with 4.76km Super Special stage at Kasarani before theading to Mzabibu (8.15km) and Camp Moran (32.20km).

The other stages include; 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 action will see cars take on Camp Moran, Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong twice before retiring for the day.

Saturday’s action features stages in Sleeping Warrior, Elementaita and Soysambu while Sunday will see the cars take on Oserengoni, Hell’s Gate, Mzabibu, Oserengoni again before the final stage and prize-giving ceremony 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.

Camp Moran, perched on the cliffs of the Great Rift Valley, will be an unforgiving test of both speed and endurance, featuring rocky outcrops, sharp dips and high-speed jumps.

With 12 designated spectator zones and an expanded Rally Village, fans will be closer to the action than ever before, watching as WRC’s best navigate some of the toughest rally conditions on the planet.

“We have been having spectator zones that are better communicated to the spectators so this time, I am sure they already know where and when they can access the spectator areas.

“This year, we have increased the number of spectator areas where they can get closer to the drivers.”

“Besides, we have also introduced a rally village, where fans will have a full experience of the cars passing through the stages as well as screen the event as it unfolds,” said event director, Norris Ongalo.

This year, the International Automobile Federation (FIA) approved 33 cars to take part in the Rally. The team to beat is Toyota Gazoo Racing who have dominated the Safari Rally since the event returned to WRC in 2021.

In 2021, French man Sebastian Ogier clocked 3:18:11.3 to claim overall victory leading fellow Toyota driver Takamoto Katsuta of Japan (3:18:33.1) with Hyundai’s Ott Tanak (3:19:20.8) completing the podium places.

The 2022 Safari saw Toyota sweep the podium led by Kalle Rovanpera who clocked 3:40:24.9 with Britain’s Elfyns Evans (3:41:17.7) and Takamoto (3:42:07.6) rounding off the podium.

In the 2023 edition, Toyota yet again swept the podium with Ogier claiming his second title after clocking 3:30:42.5 ahead of Rovanpera (3:30:49.2) and Evans (3:33:41.0).

Last year, Rovanpera triumphed in 3:36:04.0 with Takamoto second (3:37:41.8) and M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmax third (3:38:29.1).

For the 2025 edition, Toyota Gazoo Racing’s charge will feature defending champion Rovanpera with his navigator Jonne Halttunen, Evans and his navigator Scott Martin, Takamoto/Aaron Johnston and the youngest driver in the group Sami Pajari/navigator Marko Salminen.

In an earlier interview with The Star, Rovanpera made clear his intentions of defending his title and securing a hat-trick on Kenyan soil in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1.

“We have won it a few times and so we’ll try to win it again. This is not one of the easiest rallies to win but we will do our best,” Rovanpera said.

“This is one of the most demanding rallies of the season. The conditions are brutal, but it’s an important event for me and Toyota. I’m excited to be here.”

Rovanpera believes Toyota can extend its dominance on Kenyan soil but remains wary of the unpredictability of the Safari Rally.

“We will be strong like before but you never know with Safari; it’s so unpredictable. We will for sure get lots of competition,” he said.

Katsuta Takamoto believes he has made crucial improvements and is eager to put in a strong performance in Kenya.

“This year I have improved my driving style, I was second in Sweden so I hope to do even better here in Kenya,” Takamoto said.

Competing in his fifth Safari Rally, Katsuta echoed Rovanpera’s sentiments, emphasising the team’s collective ambition.

“Nice to be back here! It’s my fifth time racing at the Safari Rally and we hope to bring back a good performance for Toyota,” he said.

The 23-year-old Pajari is not under any pressure despite making his debut in Safari Rally. “This is the first time I am doing the Safari Rally. It is exciting and has different conditions than what I am used to, but it has a nice scenery and a nice challenge. I am up for the challenge,” he said.

Toyota currently leads the manufacturer’s standings after the two legs in Monte-Carlo and Sweden—and sit top of the log with 120 points.

Hyundai (72 points) is second while M-Sport Ford (25 points) is third. In the individual standings, Evans tops the list with 61 points with Ogier (33 points) and Rovanpera (31 points) second and third respectively.

However, the reigning WRC champion Thierry Neuville of Hyundai is on a mission to end Toyota’s dominance and clinch his maiden title at the Safari Rally.

Neuville clinched his maiden WRC title last year with 242 points, fending off Evans (210 points) and Tanak (200 points).

Neuville revealed his intentions for a strong showing over the weekend to rival Toyota who have been dominant.

“My target for the Safari Rally season this year is to win,” Neuville said. “I believe we need to perform here this weekend. We need to be strong, the target is to outperform Toyota but this is a rally we know they have been so strong in the past.”

The inclusion of Fourmax in Hyundai’s 2025 campaign will be crucial in their ambitions to rival Toyota.

“The team decided to take a full time driver and someone like Adrian who made a good progression last year is very important. Adrian was a good move and he has brought value to the team.”

Hyundai’s lineup also includes Tanak, who will be co-driven by Martin Jarveoja. The other key competitors include a stellar line-up from Ford led by Joshua Mcerlean and his co-driver Eoin Treacy, Gregoire Munster and his co Louis Louka and Jourdan Serderidis and his navigator Frederic Miclotte.

Five-time Safari Rally champion Carl “Flash” Tundo is set to spearhead the local contingent, with his sights firmly set on a podium finish in the WRC2 category.

“I still feel competitive, the young drivers are coming up really well but I want to get on the WRC2 podium and win the ARC,” Tundo said.

The veteran driver highlighted his deep-rooted love for the Safari Rally. “This will be my 24th Safari Rally. I have won it five times and claimed the KNRC title eight times. It’s an event close to my heart and very dear to me” he added.

Reigning African Rally Champion and three-time Safari Rally champion Karan Patel, alongside his navigator Tauseef Khan, is looking to use this year’s edition as a springboard for another successful ARC title defence.

“We plan to try to defend our ARC title which will mean we win it for a third consecutive time,” Tauseef said. National rally champion Samaan Singh, navigated by Drew Sturrock in a Skoda Fabia Evo RC2, are determined to put last year’s disappointment behind them.

“It’s a very special moment coming off winning the National Rally last year. After our unfortunate accident during last year’s Safari Rally, we have come back bigger, better, and ready for 2025,” Samaan said.

“After our unfortunate accident during last year’s Rally we have come back bigger better and ready for the Safari Rally 2025 and we’re ready to go,” Samaan said.

On the other hand, Hamza Anwar is fueled by national pride as he prepares to take on the grueling Safari Rally terrain.

“It has taken a lot and I am very proud of my family, friends, and the country for this chance. We are hoping for top results,” Anwar said.

Paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania is making a strong comeback in pursuit of a WRC3 podium finish after last year’s brutal crash that wrecked his car in 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 target this year is a podium finish in WRC 3. We are still getting used to the car, but we’re confident in our ability to put in a strong performance,” Sachania said.