The 2025 Safari Rally Kenya kicked off with the Wednesday shakedown stage, marking the first action of the event.
Defending Safari Rally champion Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his intent by setting the fastest time in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, continuing the manufacturer’s dominance at the event since its return to the WRC calendar in 2021.
With two previous Safari Rally victories under his belt, the Finnish driver is eager to launch his 2025 campaign with another triumph.
“It’s always great to be back here in Kenya, and I’m really looking forward to an epic rally! We were fastest on the shakedown stage, which is always nice, but let’s see what happens when the rally starts,” Rovanperä said enthusiastically.
Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans, who leads the 2025 WRC championship standings after his maximum points haul in Sweden, could only manage seventh in shakedown. The Welshman will be looking to maintain his strong form and extend his championship lead.
The Safari Rally is regarded as one of the toughest tests on the WRC calendar, where car reliability is crucial. Reigning world champion Thierry Neuville hopes his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 can withstand the gruelling Kenyan terrain and deliver Hyundai their first-ever Safari Rally win. Hyundai’s best finish at the event was third, achieved by Ott Tänak in 2021. Tänak, currently fifth in the championship, will be aiming for a podium finish to improve his standings.
M-Sport Ford sees Kenya as an opportunity for a strong result. Their challenge is led by Grégoire Munster, while young talent Josh McErlean makes his Safari Rally debut, navigating the unpredictable African roads for the first time.
Rovanperä posted the quickest time, finishing 1.6 seconds ahead of Neuville, with Tänak in third, 1.9 seconds behind the leader. Adrien Fourmaux secured fourth, trailing Rovanperä by 2.2 seconds. Toyota’s Japanese star Takamoto Katsuta, a three-time Safari Rally podium finisher, finished fifth, 1.3 seconds behind Fourmaux and 1.7 seconds ahead of the fastest M-Sport Ford, piloted by Grégoire Munster.
In the local battle, reigning FIA African Rally Champion Karan Patel topped the Kenyan timesheets in his Skoda Rally3. Patel, who is seeking his third consecutive African Rally Championship (ARC) title, is set to compete in the continental series that also visits Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi, and Rwanda. Defending Kenyan national champion Samman Vohra was the second fastest Kenyan, while rally legend Carl Tundo settled for 18th, clocking his best time of 4:13.3 on the first pass.
The 2025 Safari Rally Kenya consists of 21 stages with nearly 400 competitive kilometres, maintaining its reputation as an ultimate test of endurance. Rally headquarters and the service park are once again based in Naivasha, north of Nairobi.
The event formally begins on Thursday with a ceremonial flag-off at City Hall Way in Nairobi before drivers tackle the crowd favourite Kasarani Super Special Stage, the opening timed test. The rally then moves to the Rift Valley for Friday’s eight stages, including two runs through the newly introduced 32km Camp Moran stage.
Saturday features three morning stages, which are repeated in the afternoon, including the iconic 27km Sleeping Warrior stage, set against a spectacular backdrop. Sunday, the shortest day of the event at 65km, will be decisive, offering a maximum of five bonus points over five challenging stages. Hells Gate will be run twice, with the second pass serving as the final Power Stage, where additional points will be up for grabs.
With treacherous terrain, unpredictable weather, and high-speed action, the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya promises another thrilling battle for the WRC elite and Africa’s finest rally drivers.
