Elfyn Evans overcomes tough Safari Rally in Kenya

Elfyn Evans won the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya after four days of competition on some of the toughest routes this event has seen since its return to the World Rally Championship (WRC). The Welsh driver, alongside co-driver Scott Martin, drove their Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 to victory with a 1-minute and 9.9-second lead over Ott Tänak of Hyundai.

This victory, Evans' second of the season after his success in Sweden, gives him a 36-point lead in the championship, the largest margin after three rounds in WRC history, over his closest rival, Thierry Neuville.

Toyota's fifth consecutive victory in Kenya

Evans' triumph maintains Toyota's unbeaten record in Kenya since the rally returned to the WRC calendar in 2021. With this victory, the Japanese team also celebrates its 100th participation in the championship since its debut in 2017, amassing 53 wins and 123 podiums during this period.

"I want to thank everyone in Kenya for a very warm welcome. An incredible rally, I must say. A great job by the team, they did an excellent job, and I'm proud to be a small part of Toyota's history in this amazing rally," Evans commented after his victory.

Evans is the first British driver to win the Safari Rally since Colin McRae in 2002, joining other British winners like Richard Burns.

A challenging route with multiple obstacles

The 2025 edition of the Safari Rally, with 383.1 competitive kilometers, was the toughest since its return to the WRC. Drivers navigated rocky terrains with a high risk of damage to tires and vehicles, while torrential rains on Saturday created some of the worst conditions ever seen in this event.

Evans took the lead on Friday when Tänak experienced a drivetrain issue with his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. From then on, the Welshman managed his advantage prudently, overcoming punctures, spins, and an electrical issue during the final stage on Sunday.

Hyundai with two cars on the podium

Tänak secured second place on the podium alongside his teammate and reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who finished 3 minutes and 32 seconds behind the winner after a challenging weekend. The Belgian accumulated two minutes in penalties due to various incidents, including a one-minute penalty for a late gearbox change, an early start, and a late arrival while working to repair damage to his car's cooling system.

Despite these setbacks, the result with two cars on the podium was Hyundai's best in Safari Rally history.

Complications for other Toyota drivers

Toyota failed to place more than one car on the podium for the first time since the Safari Rally returned to the calendar. Kalle Rovanperä dropped from second to fifth on Saturday due to suspension issues and eventually retired on Sunday due to an electrical problem. This leaves him 57 points behind Evans in the championship.

Takamoto Katsuta, who was in fourth place after overcoming multiple punctures and heat-related issues, was unable to reach the finish line due to damage sustained during a roll in the Power Stage. Sami Pajari inherited fourth place in his first Safari Rally appearance.

Grégoire Munster overcame a gearbox issue to finish fifth in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1, while Gus Greensmith won the WRC2 category, finishing more than three minutes ahead of Jan Solans, who rolled in special stage 18.

Next rally in the Canary Islands

The World Rally Championship will head to the Rally Islas Canarias, a tarmac event taking place in Gran Canaria from April 24 to 27. This marks the WRC's return to Spain for the first time since 2022.

Final classification of the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya

#	Driver	Team	Time
1	Evans E.	Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT	4:20:03.8
2	Tanak O.	Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT	+1:09.9
3	Neuville T.	Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT	+3:32.0
4	Pajari S.	Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT	+7:18.7
5	Munster G.	M-Sport Ford WRT	+11:35.3
6	Greensmith G.	Greensmith G.	+14:11.6
7	Solans J.	Solans J.	+17:26.6
8	Serderidis J.	M-Sport Ford WRT	+28:45.5
9	Zaldivar F.	Zaldivar F.	+35:38.8
10	McErlean J.	McErlean J.	+37:15.8