Toyota Gazoo Racing triumphs in gruelling Safari Rally Kenya
Extends championship lead
Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (TGR-WRT) celebrates a fifth consecutive victory at the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya after Elfyn Evans secured his first-ever win at the legendary African event. This victory, which marked the team’s 100th World Rally Championship (WRC) start since its debut in 2017, extended Evans’ lead in the 2025 drivers’ championship.
The Safari Rally Kenya, renowned for its gruelling and unpredictable terrain, was the most demanding and challenging edition since the event rejoined the FIA World Rally Championship in 2021. Despite the notoriously rough roads and challenging conditions, Evans and his co-driver Scott Martin delivered an expert performance that enabled them to maintain Toyota’s dominance at the event.
Evans’ victory is significant not only for the championship but also for Toyota. The team has now won the Safari Rally 13 times, further cementing its legacy on African roads. This triumph also adds another trophy to its ever-growing collection, marking TGR-WRT’s 53rd win and 123rd podium finish since it began competing in the WRC.
Tough challenge
The 2025 Safari Rally Kenya, held from March 20 to 23, was as demanding as ever, with 383.1 competitive kilometres stretching across some of the roughest terrain in the world. This year’s event saw the return of the heavy rains that contributed to slippery and dangerous conditions on the Kenyan stages, making tyre management and car durability key to survival.
The rally’s rocky roads and unpredictable weather created numerous hazards. Wet weather on Saturday’s stages proved treacherous, while the rocky terrain continually threatened to damage the rally cars. While rivals may have shown more speed on Friday’s first full day of the rally, Evans’ more cautious approach allowed him to preserve his car and maintain a solid position, finishing the day 7.7 seconds ahead of his teammate, Kalle Rovanperä.
Strategic lead
By Saturday night, Evans had built a commanding lead of almost two minutes. This allowed him to take a more measured approach on Sunday, ensuring he would bring his car home safely to claim victory. After a tense final day, Evans crossed the finish line with a margin of 1 minute 9.9 seconds over Hyundai’s Ott Tänak, securing his first-ever Safari Rally win in 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 3.8 seconds.
Following his victory in Sweden earlier this season, Evans’ success on Safari means that he now leads the drivers’ championship with a 36-point advantage after three rounds. This puts him in a commanding position as the WRC heads towards the next round in the Canary Islands.
Historic milestone
In addition to Evans’ remarkable achievement, TGR-WRT reached a historic milestone with their 100th WRC start. It was a fitting moment as the team celebrated their 13th win at the Safari Rally Kenya, further solidifying their legacy as one of the most successful teams in the championship.
This victory also added significance, as Juha Kankkunen, the team’s Deputy Team Principal, received a special tribute. Forty years ago, Kankkunen claimed his maiden WRC victory at the same rally as Toyota, and he returned to the podium alongside Evans to celebrate yet another Safari win. His presence on the podium added a sentimental touch to the victory, highlighting the long and storied relationship between Kankkunen and Toyota at the Safari Rally.
Some setbacks
While Evans basked in victory, his teammates faced their own set of challenges. Kalle Rovanperä, the 2023 world champion, began the final day in fifth place after sustaining suspension damage on Saturday. Unfortunately, an electrical issue during the road section to the next stage forced him to retire, meaning he would leave Kenya without scoring any points, which disappointed him greatly.
Takamoto Katsuta, another Toyota driver, also had a challenging rally. On the final day, Katsuta pushed hard to secure additional points, but a roll near the start of the Power Stage ended his challenge. Although he completed the stage in fifth place, the damage to his car meant he had to retire before reaching the final time control. Despite the setbacks, Katsuta’s fourth-place finish in the overall standings was a valiant effort under challenging circumstances.
Sami Pajari impressed with his maturity and resilience in his first-ever Safari Rally. The young Finnish driver demonstrated excellent pace throughout the event, finishing in fourth place overall. His consistent performance and lack of major mistakes highlighted his potential for the future, and the experience gained in Kenya will be invaluable as he continues to develop as a driver.
Team reactions
The mood at TGR-WRT was one of celebration and reflection on the challenges of the rally. Akio Toyoda, Chairman of Toyota Gazoo Racing, praised Evans and Martin for their victory, stating, “Elfyn and Scott have brought us three consecutive wins this season and a fifth straight win at the Safari Rally Kenya. I am grateful to them for giving us another triumph on this special event.”
Toyoda continued, “The roads in Kenya were as challenging as ever. It wasn’t an easy victory, but we were able to win thanks to Elfyn and Scott’s expert driving. The rally threw up new challenges, and the team responded with excellent preparation. From tomorrow, we will continue to improve the GR YARIS Rally1 to make it even better.”
Juha Kankkunen, deeply emotional after the victory, reflected on the rally’s extreme nature. “This was the toughest Safari Rally I have ever seen. There were so many things happening throughout the rally, and I felt more nervous watching it than when I was behind the wheel myself. It’s a huge achievement for Elfyn and Scott, and I’m proud to see Toyota win again here.”
Evans was elated after crossing the finish line, expressing his pride in his team and the achievement. “It’s amazing to have won this rally. The Safari is such a special event, and I’m proud to be a small part of Toyota’s great history here. It’s been a demanding weekend, and the weather on Saturday made things even tougher. But we brought it home safely, and I’m really happy with the result.”
Looking ahead
With this victory, Evans continues to build momentum in the 2025 WRC season. As the series moves to the next round in the Canary Islands, Evans will be looking to extend his lead. Still, the competition remains fierce, especially with strong performances from Hyundai’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville and Rovanperä’s determination to bounce back from his Safari setback.
Toyota’s success in Kenya is a testament to the team’s relentless pursuit of perfection and ability to thrive in the most challenging conditions. The next challenge awaits in the Rally Islas Canarias (April 24-27), an asphalt rally that will provide new opportunities for Toyota to showcase its capabilities.
Provisional final classification – Safari Rally Kenya (Top 5):
- Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – 4h 20m 03.8s
- Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +1m 09.9s
- Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) – +3m 32.0s
- Sami Pajari/Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – +7m 18.7s
- Grégoire Munster/Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) – +11m 35.3s
2025 WRC drivers’ championship standings (Top 5):
- Elfyn Evans – 88 points
- Thierry Neuville – 52 points
- Ott Tänak – 49 points
- Sébastien Ogier – 33 points
- Adrien Fourmaux – 31 points
2025 WRC manufacturers’ championship standings:
- Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT – 148 points
- Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT – 122 points
- M-Sport Ford WRT – 47 points
Hero image: Elfyn Evans, alongside his co-driver Scott Martin, delivered an expert performance that enabled them to maintain Toyota’s dominance at the Safari Rally Kenya. Credit: TGR-WRT
