The air trembled with the roar of engines, dust swirling like a golden haze over Naivasha’s rugged plains. For days, the Safari Rally Kenya 2025 unleashed its fury—punishing terrain, sudden rain, and a relentless fight for supremacy. When the chaos settled, one man stood atop the jungle throne: Elfyn Evans, his Toyota Gazoo Racing machine purring triumphantly, crowned king of this unforgiving wild.
Mastering the Wild
Through deep fesh-fesh that swallowed tires and slick mud that tested nerve, Evans carved his path with precision. His reward? A haul of 27 points from Kenya, stretching his championship lead to 88 points, a towering 36-point gap over his nearest rival. Patience was his weapon, strategy his shield. While others faltered, his Toyota held strong—a mechanical beast tamed by a master.
Twenty-three years after Colin McRae’s iconic win, Evans became just the third UK driver to conquer the Safari, his name now etched in motorsport legend.
Grinning beneath the Kenyan sun, sweat streaking his face, Evans tipped his helmet to the roaring crowd:
“Thank you for the warm welcome, Kenya. It’s always a pleasure to race here, and I’m proud to be part of history in this incredible country.”
Toyota’s Trials and Triumphs
Toyota’s camp was a storm of highs and lows. As Evans basked in glory, defending champion Kalle Rovanperä wrestled with a cruel twist—an electrical gremlin sparking beneath his hood. Hands blackened with grease, he fought to revive his steed, but the fix wouldn’t hold. With a frustrated sigh, he retired early, the jungle claiming its first victim.
Takamoto Katsuta met a wilder fate: his car flipped in a heart-stopping roll during the Wolf Power Stage, the windscreen cracking like a spider’s web. Dust-caked and rattled, he nursed the wounded machine to a slowed finish, clawing back to 5th place. Sami Pajari’s steady 4th-place finish softened the sting, ensuring Toyota’s pride—and dominance—endured.
Hyundai’s Fierce Chase & Reliability Woes
Hyundai charged like lions on the hunt, desperate to dethrone Toyota. Ott Tänak, eyes narrowed against the dust, wrestled his car to 2nd place with 23 points, while Thierry Neuville shadowed him in 3rd place, also with 23 points. Their podium stand was a testament to grit—two cars gleaming amidst the chaos.
But Hyundai’s battle wasn’t just against Toyota—it was against their own machines. Reliability issues haunted the team throughout the weekend, from Adrien Fourmaux’s Friday troubles to Munster’s gearbox issues on Sunday. Even Neuville, pushing for maximum points, suffered a puncture that cost him valuable seconds.
Wiping grime from his brow, Neuville reflected on the weekend’s battle:
“Having two cars on the podium shows that neither the drivers nor the team gave up. But reliability continues to be a concern, and that’s something we must improve on.”
In the championship chase, Neuville clung to 52 points and Tänak to 49—valiant, but still trailing Evans’ towering 88.
The Vasha Sherehe Experience: Untamed and Unforgettable
The Safari Rally is no mere race—it’s a beast of its own. Fesh-fesh dust rose in choking clouds, rain lashed the earth into a slippery trap, and wild eyes—zebras, giraffes, elephants—peered from the lush bush. Through it all, the fans roared louder than the engines.
Old men waved flags, children danced in the mud, their cheers weaving into the “Vasha Sherehe Experience”—Kenya’s joyous rally celebration, a heartbeat pulsing through Naivasha’s soul.
Engines screamed, metal groaned, and the jungle watched. The countdown to Safari Rally Kenya 2026 ticks on—more speed, more chaos, more moments to sear into memory.
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