The 2025 Safari Rally, also known as the Safari Rally Kenya 2025, captivated motorsport fans over its four-day span, held from March 20 to March 23. This marked the event's seventy-third running and served as the third round for the 2025 World Rally Championship, alongside the WRC2 and WRC3 Championships. Hosted in the picturesque Nakuru County, specifically Naivasha, teams navigated through twenty-one special stages that totaled 384.86 km (239.14 miles) of competitive racing.
Elfyn Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin emerged victorious, showcasing their skill and perseverance throughout the treacherous course. "It was a tough rally, but we managed to keep our focus and maintain a good pace," said Evans after their triumph, reflecting on the demanding conditions typically associated with the Safari Rally.
The event is notorious for its rocky and rutted tracks, coupled with unpredictable weather. This year, Evans and Martin raced for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, which successfully defended its status as the reigning manufacturer’s champion. The rally’s fierce competition saw a total of 39 crews registered, with only 21 completing the event.
With intense pressure on the defending champions, expectations were high, particularly as Kalle Rovanperä and Jonne Halttunen had previously secured victory in 2024. They, along with competitors including Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson of the WRC2 category, had set a high bar for this season. Greensmith noted, "We arrived with the goal to defend our title, and I think we did a good job navigating through some challenging stages."
Greensmith and Andersson indeed retained their positions atop the WRC2 standings, securing their win with a time of 4:34:15.4. Meanwhile, local competitors entered the spotlight in the WRC3 category, where Nikhil Sachania and Deep Patel emerged as champions with a time of 7:04:36.9. "Winning on home soil adds a special value to our victory," Sachania expressed.
The Safari Rally, staged from a start location in Kasarani, Nairobi, to the finish at Hell’s Gate National Park, featured a total transport distance of 1,018.77 km (633.03 miles) and an overall distance of 1,403.63 km (872.18 miles). Every team faced challenges with tire wear and strategic timing, as the varying climatic conditions played a significant role in performance.
WRC enthusiasts enjoyed close battles, particularly in the power stage. Adrien Fourmaux and Alexandre Coria of Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT demonstrated remarkable pace and determination. "We aimed for the Power Stage win, and I’m happy with the way we executed our strategy in those final stages," said Fourmaux, who also took home the Power Stage win with a time of 5:38.2.
Despite the challenges, the event illustrated the depth of talent in rally racing, with a rich array of teams competing across multiple categories. Ten crews participated under Rally1 regulations, with an additional sixteen in Rally2 for the WRC2 Championship. The varied experience levels among drivers created a dynamic atmosphere throughout the competition.
As motorsport fans continue to celebrate this year's successes, eyes are already shifting to the upcoming rounds in the World Rally Championship. With the fierce competition witnessed in the Safari Rally, teams will need to remain vigilant as they prepare for their next challenges on the road ahead.