WRC Safari Rally 2025: Everything You Need To Know

Are you ready for high-adrenaline action? Brace yourselves for the ultimate showcase of passion, precision, and power. Here is everything you need to know about the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2025. The Safari Rally was first held in 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika as a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

In 1960, it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Kenya Safari Rally. It then evolved into the current modern-day World Rally Championship (WRC). Safari Rally is currently the most popular event on the WRC calendar, alongside the 1,000 Lakes of Finland and Monte Carlo.

Safari Rally Kenya Winners

The late Kenyan rally ace Shekhar Mehta and fellow Kenyan Carl Tundo are the event’s most successful drivers, with five victories each. Mehta emerged victorious in the first event of the WRC calendar at the Safari Rally in 1973. He went on to win four more times, from 1979 to 1982. Tundo, on the other hand, has won the rally five times, but all his victories came from editions held outside of the WRC schedule. These events were held in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2018.

During its run as a WRC event from 1973–2002, the 1979 world champion Bjorn Waldegard and four-time world title winner Juha Kankkunen scored four wins. The Safari Rally was the scene of Colin McRae’s final WRC win in 2002. It was the 1995 world champion’s third Safari Rally triumph, alongside wins for Subaru in 1997 and Ford in 1999 and 2002.

World champions Miki Biasion, Tommi Makinen, and Richard Burns have all won the rally twice. Toyota has dominated the rally since returning to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2021, and the Safari has resumed its reputation as one of motorsport’s toughest challenges. It’s a challenge that TGR-WRT has risen to with four consecutive victories, extending Toyota’s record tally of wins at the event to 11. That includes a historic pair of 1-2-3-4 results in the years 2022 and 2023.

Sebastien Ogier won the WRC Safari Rally in 2021 and 2023, while Kalle Rovanpera won in 2022 and 2024.

Year	Driver	Co-Driver	Rally Car
2024	Kalle Rovanperä	Jonne Halttunen	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2023	Sébastien Ogier	Vincent Landais	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2022	Kalle Rovanperä	Jonne Halttunen	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2021	Sébastien Ogier	Julien Ingrassia	Toyota Yaris WRC
2002	Colin McRae	Nicky Grist	Ford Focus RS WRC 02
2001	Tommi Mäkinen	Risto Mannisenmäki	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5
2000	Richard Burns	Robert Reid	Subaru Impreza WRC00
1999	Colin McRae	Nicky Grist	Ford Focus WRC
1998	Richard Burns	Robert Reid	Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV
1997	Colin McRae	Nicky Grist	Subaru Impreza WRC97
1996	Tommi Mäkinen	Seppo Harjanne	Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III
1994	Ian Duncan	David Williamson	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1993	Juha Kankkunen	Juha Piironen	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1992	Carlos Sainz	Luis Moya	Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1991	Juha Kankkunen	Juha Piironen	Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v
1990	Björn Waldegård	Fred Gallagher	Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1989	Miki Biasion	Tiziano Siviero	Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1988	Miki Biasion	Tiziano Siviero	Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1987	Hannu Mikkola	Arne Hertz	Audi 200 Quattro
1986	Björn Waldegård	Fred Gallagher	Toyota Celica TCT
1985	Juha Kankkunen	Fred Gallagher	Toyota Celica TCT
1984	Björn Waldegård	Hans Thorszelius	Toyota Celica TCT
1983	Ari Vatanen	Terry Harryman	Opel Ascona 400
1982	Shekhar Mehta	Mike Doughty	Nissan Violet GT
1981	Shekhar Mehta	Mike Doughty	Nissan Violet GT
1980	Shekhar Mehta	Mike Doughty	Datsun 160J
1979	Shekhar Mehta	Mike Doughty	Datsun 160J
1978	Jean-Pierre Nicolas	Jean-Claude Lefèbvre	Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé
1977	Björn Waldegård	Hans Thorszelius	Ford Escort RS1800
1976	Joginder Singh	David Doig	Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR
1975	Ove Andersson	Arne Hertz	Peugeot 504
1974	Joginder Singh	David Doig	Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR
1973	Shekhar Mehta	Lofty Drews	Datsun 240Z

WRC Safari Rally 2025

Safari Rally Kenya is a motorsport adventure like no other. Known as one of the toughest and most unpredictable events on the calendar, it challenges drivers with rough terrain, deep ruts, and the ever-present threat of sudden rainfall. Set in the heart of Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, the rally blends modern WRC competition with the spirit of classic endurance events.

Key Highlights

The 2025 WRC Safari Rally will be held from Thursday, March 20th, to Sunday, March 23rd, 2025, in Nairobi County, and Naivasha (Nakuru County). The rally will kick off with a flag-off at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Thursday, March 20th, 2025; crews will head to the Kasarani Grounds for the Super Special Stage.

The Safari Rally is usually characterized by closed dirt roads, picturesque scenery, exotic wildlife, rocky and rutted tracks, and unpredictable weather that frequently turns dusty roads into slippery and tricky mud baths. Kenya’s Safari Rally has always been a challenge for drivers of all categories because it is unpredictable, longer, and filled with pitfalls, adding to the adventure for spectators.

Safari Rally Kenya 2024 Results

1. Kalle Rovanperä/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) 3h36m04.0s
2. Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +1m37.8s
3. Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) +2m25.1s

Safari Rally Kenya Recent Winners

2024: Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2023: Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2022: Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2021: Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Toyota Yaris WRC
2019*: Baldev Chager / Ravi Soni Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4
2018*: Carl Tundo / Tim Jessop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4

Safari Rally 2025 Route

Wednesday, March 19th, 2025

• Shakedown – Sleeping Warrior – 10:01 hours (5.00km)

Thursday, March 20th, 2025

• Official Flag Off – Uhuru Park – 11:26 hours by President William Ruto
• SS 1 Kasarani – 13:05 hours (4.76 km) – Super Special Stage
• SS 2 Mzabibu 1 – 15:58 hours (8.15 km)

Friday, March 21st, 2025

• SS 3 Camp Moran 1 – 07:28 hours (32.20 km)
• SS 4 Loldia 1 – 08:56 hours (19.11 km)
• SS 5 Geothermal 1 – 10:14 hours (13.12 km)
• SS 6 Kedong 1 – 11:02 hours (15.10 km)

• SS 7 Camp Moran 2 – 12:57 hours (32.20 km)
• SS 8 Loldia 2 – 14:25 hours (19.11 km)
• SS 9 Geothermal 2 – 15:43 hours (13.12 km)
• SS 10 Kedong 2 – 16:31 hours (15.10 km)

Saturday, March 22nd, 2025

• SS 11 Sleeping Warrior 1 – 08:41 hours (26.88 km)
• SS 12 Elmenteita 1 – 09:35 hours (17.31 km)
• SS 13 Soysambu 1 – 10:32 hours (29.32 km)

• SS 14 Sleeping Warrior 2 – 14:59 hours (26.88 km)
• SS 15 Elmenteita 2 – 16:05 hours (17.31 km)
• SS 16 Soysambu 2 – 17:06 hours (29.32 km)

Sunday, March 23rd, 2025

• SS 17 Oserengoni 1 – 07:53 hours (18.33 km)
• SS 18 Hell’s Gate 1 – 09:05 hours (10.53 km)

• SS 19 Mzabibu 2 – 10:56 hours (8.15 km)
• SS 20 Oserengoni 2 – 12:07 hours (18.33 km)
• SS 21 Hell’s Gate 2 – 14:15 hours (10.53 km)
  Podium – 15:30 hours 

Safari Rally 2025 Spectator Stages

Day 1: Wednesday, 19th March 2025

• Event: SHAKEDOWN at Soysambu
• Spectator Zones:
  • Soysambu

Day 2: Thursday, 20th March 2025

• Event: Flag-off and driver autograph event in Nairobi, followed by a meet-the-crew session and competitive rally action at Morendat Farm in Naivasha.
• Spectator Zones:
  • Flag-Off at KICC
  • Super Special Stage at Kasarani
  • Mazabibu at Morendat Farm

Day 3: Friday, 21st March 2025

• Event: Rally action continues at Kedong and Camp Moran, with excitement at MITI MBILI.
• Spectator Zones:
  • Kedong
  • Camp Moran

Day 4: Saturday, 22nd March 2025

• Event: A full day of rally activities with autographs, food, music, and thrilling rally action.
• Spectator Zones:
  • Sleeping Warrior
  • Soysambu
  • Elementaita

Day 5: Sunday, 23rd March 2025

• Event: Closing rally action in Naivasha.
• Spectator Zones:
  • Mazabibu at Morendat Farm
  • Hells Gate

WRC Kenya 2025 Tickets

WRC Safari Rally 2025 is completely free; there is no ticket that you need to access the venue so beware of scammers.

How to Watch the Safari Rally

• For fans in Kenya, the national broadcaster KBC will televise selected rounds, offering a front-row seat to the local audience.
• UK viewers can catch every round live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), with subscriptions available for new customers at £18 per month.
• This package not only provides access to TNT’s sports channels but also includes Discovery+, enhancing your viewing experience across various devices.
• Rally.tv presents an alternative for those preferring online streaming, boasting rights to broadcast the event, ensuring fans worldwide don’t miss out on the action.
• Moreover, Discovery+ emerges as a versatile platform for watching the rally, catering to a broad audience with its extensive coverage.
• Did you miss a stage? No problem. Highlights for the Safari Rally will be accessible via KBC, Red Bull TV, TNT Sports, and ITV4, with each offering comprehensive packages to recap the day’s events.
• Autosport and the WRC’s official YouTube channel will also provide daily highlights, ensuring fans stay up-to-date with the rally’s progress.

WRC Safari Rally 2025 Live Stream

For this year’s event, the Shakedown, Kasarani, Elementaita, and Hells Gate Power Stage will be live on WRC TV

WRC Safari Rally 2025 Accommodation

Those who would like to be staying there for the whole period that the rally is meant to happen should have booked their accommodation by now. Naivasha is a beautiful space and you have many places to choose from but ensure your location is at least accessible to where the rally is happening or the routes the rally drivers will be using. This is because almost the whole country will be there and traffic is usually wild so ensure you don’t get to the venue when the rally is almost over if you intend to watch it. Accommodation options;

1. List Of Best Camping Sites In Naivasha
2. List Of Best Airbnb Vacation Rentals In Nakuru
3. List Of Best Camping Sites In Naivasha

Carry plenty of water, hydrate, and don’t forget to pack as little clothing as possible because the weather can get quite hot at times. If your goal is simply to get out of town, make sure you have a travel itinerary and activities planned for while you’re there. You can take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, visit Hells Gate, hike to the Menengai crater, or simply relax at one of the resorts along the Naivasha-Nakuru-Nairobi route.

Avoid drinking and driving; your safety comes first. Always make sure that everyone in your car is sober before getting behind the wheel.

Here’s an FAQ about the Safari Rally in 2025

1. Why is the Safari Rally the hardest?

Drivers often look forward to competing on the expansive roads in Naivasha due to their unpredictable nature. The dusty roads could easily turn muddy and impassable in the event of rainfall, which is always a possibility. Fesh fesh is a term you will probably hear a lot from motorsports enthusiasts. It refers to the fine dust on the roads that looks like solid ground. On rocky terrain, it is extremely slippery, and it usually sticks to the engines of the cars, thereby causing major performance issues. It also lingers in the air, which causes major visibility issues for drivers. Teams often struggle to deal with it. In 2022 and 2023, Toyota did the unthinkable by sweeping all the podium places.