Excitement Builds for Safari Rally Kenya in 2025 World Rally Championship
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship highlights the Safari Rally Kenya as an upcoming challenge following Elfyn Evans’ victory in Sweden. With Toyota’s dominance established, competitors like Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta aim to take the lead. Hyundai, led by Thierry Neuville, faces an uphill battle, while local and WRC2 drivers bring additional excitement to the rally’s prospects.
The 2025 FIA World Rally Championship is set to embark on an exciting adventure at the Safari Rally Kenya following the recent thrilling Rally Sweden. The previous event concluded with Elfyn Evans of Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT claiming victory, narrowly overcoming the competition as the top five drivers were only separated by 32.8 seconds on the final day. Evans’ win marked the tenth of his WRC career, equating him with the late Richard Burns on the UK winners list, showcasing Toyota’s dominance early in the season.
Attention now shifts to Kenya for the series’ third race and its inaugural gravel rally of the year, where Elfyn Evans maintains a strong lead in the championship standings. His Toyota teammates, however, are determined to challenge his dominance, notably Kalle Rovanperä, last year’s Safari Rally winner. Although Rovanperä has struggled with form in 2025, competing on his preferred surface could reinvigorate his performance.
Additionally, Takamoto Katsuta, Rovanperä’s fellow Toyota teammate, is another contender. He narrowly missed his first win in Sweden, finishing just 3.8 seconds behind Evans. Meanwhile, the Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team, led by defending champion Thierry Neuville, faces challenges as they attempt to break Toyota’s streak in Kenya, having previously returned to the calendar in 2021. Despite current standings seeing Neuville in fourth place, the team remains hopeful with their Hyundai i20 Rally 1.
In a competitive landscape, M-Sport Ford enters the event with a fresh line-up of Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean, both tasked with building pace and ensuring they complete the challenging stages of the rally. They aim to leverage recent successes in previous events, particularly Munster’s experience from achieving a podium finish last year in Kenya.
The WRC2 series will also feature competitors such as Oliver Solberg, who recently won in Sweden, and Gus Greensmith, looking to repeat his class success in the 2024 Safari Rally. Local talent includes Karan Patel and Carl Tundo, both racing for podium positions and representing their home nation.
The upcoming Safari Rally Kenya promises to be an exhilarating chapter in the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship. With Elfyn Evans securing a strong lead following his victory in Sweden, competitors including Kalle Rovanperä and Takamoto Katsuta aim to challenge his dominance. The Hyundai team, led by Thierry Neuville, strives for improvement against Toyota’s current supremacy. Local and WRC2 drivers also present exciting potential for surprises, enhancing the thrilling prospects of this rally. The event marks a significant moment, continuing the legacy of the Safari Rally as a crucial fixture in the championship calendar.
Original Source: www.dazn.com
