This year’s Safari Rally has introduced two new stages at Mzabibu and Camp Moran, expected to add excitement to the competition.
With WRC Safari Rally Kenya freight containers already offloaded and securely positioned at Naivasha's Service Park, World Rally Teams Prepare for what promises to be a grueling 2025 Rally in Naivasha.
Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai Motorsport spent the better part of last weekend offloading containers and ensuring that their GR Yaris reconnaissance cars are in top condition well in time.
Following the conclusion of the two-day reconnaissance schedule, crews will head to Sleeping Warrior for a 5km Shakedown stage.
As of last weekend, Service Park Manager Joe Muchiri confirmed the arrival of Toyota and Hyundai containers at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute in Naivasha, which is the traditional venue of the service park.
"All the containers for Toyota and Hyundai are already at the Service Park, except for M-Sport Ford, who are on their way. By Sunday, every single structure will have been set up, and the service area will be fully operational," said Muchiri.
The Service Park area at WRTI is traditionally the nerve center of the rally and will host the Rally Headquarters, Media Centre, and the designated scrutineering area.
After two days of reconnaissance on Monday and Tuesday, teams will head to the Sleeping Warrior Shakedown stage on Wednesday.
On Thursday, the event officially begins with the Ceremonial Start at City Hall Way in Nairobi.
The rally has shifted its flag-off venue from KICC to City Hall Way for better public access.
According to the Clerk of the Course, KICC will serve as the holding area for the cars this time around.
The rally culminates with the second run of the Hell's Gate speed test (10.53km), which will serve as the Power Stage on Sunday, March 23, from 14:15 onwards.
Additional championship points will be available to the fastest five crews through the stage, regardless of where they finish in the rally.
The Rally Village will be centred at Morendat Farm and will serve as a four-day hub, becoming a key feature of the 2025 Safari.
The village will offer spectators a chance to meet drivers, see the cars up close, and watch the action on big screens.
This year’s Safari Rally has introduced two new stages at Mzabibu and Camp Moran, expected to add excitement to the competition.
ENTRY LIST
1. 33# Elfyn EVANS / Scott MARTIN TOYOTA GR Yaris Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
2. 69# Kalle ROVANPERÄ / Jonne HALTTUNEN TOYOTA GR Yaris Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
3. 1# Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE HYUNDAI i20 N Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
4. 8# Ott TÄNAK / Martin JÄRVEOJA HYUNDAI i20 N Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
5. 18# Takamoto KATSUTA / Aaron JOHNSTON TOYOTA GR Yaris Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
6 . 16# Adrien FOURMAUX / Alexandre CORIA HYUNDAI i20 N Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
7. 55# Josh MCERLEAN / Eoin TREACY FORD Puma Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
8. 5# Sami PAJARI / Marko SALMINEN TOYOTA GR Yaris Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1 M/T
9. 13# Grégoire MUNSTER / Louis LOUKA FORD Puma Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
10. 9# Jourdan SERDERIDIS / Frederic MICLOTTE FORD Puma Rally1 RC1 Rally1 P1
11. 20# Oliver SOLBERG / Elliott EDMONDSON TOYOTA GR Yaris RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (D/C)
12. 21# Fabrizio ZALDIVAR / Marcelo DER OHANNESIAN SKODA Fabia RS RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
13. 22# Gus GREENSMITH / Jonas ANDERSSON SKODA Fabia RS RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (D/C)
14 .23# Jan SOLANS / Rodrigo SANJUAN TOYOTA GR Yaris RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
15. 24# Kajetan KAJETANOWICZ / Maciej SZCZEPANIAK TOYOTA GR Yaris RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
16. 25# Diego DOMINGUEZ / Rogelio PEÑATE TOYOTA GR Yaris RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
17. 26# Karan PATEL / Tauseef KHAN SKODA Fabia RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
18. 27# Daniel CHWIST / Kamil HELLER SKODA Fabia RS RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
19.28# Carl TUNDO / Tim JESSOP FORD Fiesta RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DCM/CC)
20. 29# Jeremiah WAHOME / Victor OKUNDI SKODA Fabia RS RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
21. 30# Hamza ANWAR / Adnan DIN FORD Fiesta RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
22. 31# Miguel DIAZ ABOITIZ / Diego SANJUAN SKODA Fabia Evo RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DCM/CC)
23. 32# Georgios VASILAKIS / Allan HARRYMAN FORD Fiesta Mk II RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DCM/CCM)
24.34# Samman SINGH VOHRA / Drew STURROCK SKODA Fabia Evo RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
25. 35# Fernando ALVAREZ / José DIAZ SKODA Fabia RS RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DC/CC)
26. 36# Aakif VIRANI / Zahir SHAH SKODA Fabia RC2 Rally2 P2 WRC2 (DCM/CC)
27. 37# Nikhil SACHANIA / Deep PATEL FORD Fiesta Rally3 RC3 Rally3 P3 WRC3
28. 38# Naveen PULLIGILLA / Musa SHARIF FORD Fiesta Rally3 RC3 Rally3 P3 WRC3
29. 39# Jasmeet CHANA / Ravi CHANA FORD Fiesta RC2 Rally2
30. 40# Yasin NASSER / Ali KATUMBA FORD Fiesta Mk II RC2 Rally2
31. 41# Rio SMITH / Riyaz ISMAIL FORD Fiesta Rally3 RC3 Rally3
32. 42# Minesh RATHOD / Gordon NOBLE MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo X NAT NR4
33. 43# Sameer NANJI / Suraj PALA SUBARU Impreza WRX NAT NR4
34. 44# Issa AMWARI / Dennis MWENDA MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo X NAT NR4
35. 45# Evans NZIOKA / Absalom ASWANI MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo X NAT NR4
36. 46# Prince NYERERE / Fernand RUTABINGWA MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo X NAT NR4
37. 47# Pauline SHEGHU / Linet AYUKO MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo X NAT NR4
38. 48# Ishmael OMBATI / John KADIVANE MITSUBISHI Lancer Evo IX NAT NR4
39. 49# Timothy GAWAYA / Francis WAMALA SEAT Ibiza NAT NR2
RALLY PROGRAMME
WEDNESDAY MARCH 19
10:01 Shakedown (Sleeping Warrior 5.00km)
THURSDAY MARCH 20
11:26 Ceremonial Start, KICC, Nairobi
13:05 SS1 - Super Special Kasarani (4.76km)
15:58 SS2 - Mzabibu 1 (8.15km)
FRIDAY MARCH 21
06:15 Service A - WRTI Naivasha - 15 mins
07:28 SS3 - Camp Moran 1 (32.20km)
08:56 SS4 - Loldia 1 (19.11km)
10:14 SS5 - Geothermal 1 (13.12km)
11:02 SS6 - Kedong 1 (15.10km)
11:19 Service B - WRTI Naivasha - 40 mins
12:57 SS7 - Camp Moran 2 (32.20km)
14:25 SS8 - Loldia 2 (19.11km)
15:43 SS9 - Geothermal 2 (13.12km)
16:31 SS10 - Kedong 2 (15.10km)
17:16 Flexi Service C - WRTI Naivasha - 45 mins
SATURDAY MARCH 22
08:41 SS11 - Sleeping Warrior 1 (26.88km)
09:35 SS12 - Elmenteita 1 (17.31km)
10:32 SS13 - Soysambu 1 (29.32km)
12:53 Service D - WRTI Naivasha - 40 mins
14:59 SS14 - Sleeping Warrior 2 (26.88km)
16:05 SS15 - Elmenteita 2 (17.31km)
17:06 SS16 - Soysambu 2 (29.32km)
19:22 Flexi Service E - WRTI Naivasha - 45 mins
SUNDAY MARCH 23
07:53 SS17 - Oserengoni 1 (18.33km)
09:05 SS18 - Hell's Gate 1 (10.53km)
10:18 Service F - WRTI Naivasha - 15 mins
10:56 SS19 - Mzabibu 2 (8.15km)
12:07 SS20 - Oserengoni 2 (18.33km)
14:15 SS21 - Hell's Gate 2 (10.53km)
15:30 Podium