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33 drivers to race in 2025 WRC Safari Rally

Carl Tundo

Carl Tundo (right) and Co driver Tim Jessop inside their Rally Car at the Service park at the Wildlife Research and Training institute on March 18, 2025.

Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group

By  Peter Njenga

Columnist

What you need to know:

  • Safari Rally this year has introduced two new stages at Mzabibu and Camp Moran.
  • The rally culminates with the second run of Hell's Gate speed test (10.53km long) which will serve as the Power Stage on Sunday, from 14:15pm onwards.

The FIA has approved 33 crews who will compete in the World and African championships categories of the Safari Rally

Rio Smith/Riyaz Ismail, Issa Amwari/Dennis Mwenda, Fernand Rutabingwa/Prince Nyerere, Ismael Ombati/John Kadivane and Fernando Alvarez/Jose Diaz, from the original list of 39, have been omitted in the starters list released Tuesday by the FIA.

After two days of reconnaissance on Monday and Tuesday, top drivers will spend the better part of today at the Sleeping Warrior 5km Shakedown stage where fans have been invited to watch cars driven at rally speeds to test parts and tyres ahead of the official start of the four-day road race.

Related

This marks the start of the 383km-long Safari that has attracted 39 crews in the main world and Africa championship events and a shorter 222km rally for the 17 crews in the Kenya National Rally Championship. (KNRC). 

Weather conditions 

“All teams will be have a thorough going over of the cars to ensure that they set them to suit weather conditions," said the Clerk of course George Mwangi, who is assisted by Nazir Yakub and George Gathurima.

There will be spectator zones and entertainment at the nearby Kambi Moran Lodge where fans have booked special viewing areas. 

The cars return to the same location on Friday for the 157km Camp Moran, Loldia, Kengen Geothermal stages which will be repeated twice between 7:28am and 3pm.

 The cars will be hauled back from the Wildlife Training and Research Institute (WTRI) overnight to the Nairobi where the drivers will check out the Kasarani Super Special Stage in the morning before returning in the afternoon to race after  the ceremonial start at City Hall Way.

This will be the first time that the rally as starting at City Hall Way and not the traditional Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

Four-day hub

The Rally Village situated at Morendat Farm will be a four-day hub that will be 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. 

Safari Rally this year has introduced two new stages at Mzabibu and Camp Moran.

The rally culminates with the second run of Hell's Gate speed test (10.53km long) which will serve as the Power Stage on Sunday, from 14:15pm onwards.

Additional championship points will be available to the fastest five crews through the stage regardless of where they actually finished in the rally.