The 2025 Safari Rally, the third round of the World Rally Championship (WRC), will go down in history as one of the most thrilling and fiercely contested events in recent memory.
It was a weekend that blended triumph with heartbreak, pushing drivers to their absolute limits on the brutal, unforgiving Kenyan landscape.
As the rally unfolded, all eyes were on Elfyn Evans, who, 23 years after Colin McRae’s historic triumph in 2002, became the third UK driver to take the coveted Safari win. Evans’s journey to victory was far from easy.
On Friday evening, as the event roared into its first full day of competition, Evans found himself in a prime position after a stroke of fortune for his rival, Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. Tanak’s misfortunes in the final stages of the day handed Evans the lead but the Welshman wasn’t about to rest. He pushed hard through the next two days, navigating the grueling terrain with precision and grit.
By Sunday, Evans had built a comfortable margin, but he wasn’t taking any chances. He kept his foot to the floor, refusing to back off as he tackled the Safari’s toughest stages. It was only on the final Power Stage that Evans showed restraint, easing off just enough to secure the victory without risking his position.
As he crossed the finish line, the roar from his team and fans were deafening. It was a sweet, long-awaited moment of glory for the 35 year old, as he became only the third British driver to claim a Safari win, following in the footsteps of McRae and Richard Burns.
However, the day wasn’t without its share of drama. Adrien Fourmaux, who had failed to start the rally on the first two days due to mechanical issues, had clawed his way back into contention. With determination and a fierce resolve, Fourmaux took full advantage of his second-chance opportunity on Sunday.
His blistering pace saw him dominate the Power Stage, capturing not only the stage win but also the coveted Super Sunday victory. The Frenchman’s performance was a clear reminder of the unpredictability of rallying, and he earned well-deserved praise for his resilience.
Meanwhile, the battle for the top positions was still ongoing, and the drama wasn’t over. Takamoto Katsuta, who had held fourth place for much of the weekend, saw his hopes dashed on the final Power Stage.
As the Japanese driver pushed for a strong finish, disaster struck, a roll on the treacherous terrain cost him precious time and ultimately dropped him down the order. Katsuta’s disappointment was palpable, as his heroic efforts were undone in an instant by a single mistake.
In the end, it was Evans who stood tall as the victor, his victory a testament to his skill, strategy, and unrelenting determination.
The Safari Rally had lived up to its reputation as one of the hardest events on the WRC calendar, and Evans’s triumph felt like a fitting tribute to the legacy of British rallying and Toyota’s dominance in Kenya.
With Fourmaux’s resurgence and the dramatic end to Katsuta’s hopes, the 2025 Safari was one for the history books, a reminder of just how unpredictable and thrilling the world of motorsport can be.
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