Ott Tänak navigated by Martin Järveoja during shakedown at Loldia in Naivasha. photo WRC Safari Rally
Cabinet Secretary (CS) for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy, and Sports, Salim Mvurya, affirmed on Tuesday (January 29) that Kenya is ready to host the 2025 WRC Safari Rally, scheduled for March 20–23.
According to safarirally.ke, the newly appointed minister spoke at the WRC Safari Rally headquarters in Naivasha during his induction site visit for the global event, which will be the third round of the 2025 WRC series following stops in Monaco and Sweden.
Mvurya and a high-powered team from the sports ministry met with the Oversight and Local Organizing Committees of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally, local leaders, and sponsors. “This is a crucial meeting that lays a strong foundation for organizing the WRC Safari Rally. We are coming in as a very strong team because we have experience in organizing this event,” Mvurya said.
The CS further confirmed that most of the Safari Rally—which returned to the WRC calendar in 2021—will continue to be held in Naivasha, Nakuru County, for the foreseeable future. Speaking at the same function, the Principal Secretary for Sports, Peter Tum, emphasized that environmental conservation and community support would be at the heart of the Safari Rally. “We have a good track record of organizing international events. This year’s Safari Rally will be different from last year’s because we have listened to the people. We are on the right footing going forward,” Tum said.
— Spectator-Friendly–
All female crew rally drivers signing autographs for fans during the 2024 WRC Safari Rally. Photo Cymoncy
To bring the event closer to more local and visiting fans, WRC Safari Rally CEO Charles Gacheru announced that spectators will have more opportunities to interact with World Rally Team stars during the four-day event next month. The number of autograph points has been increased, and a Rally Village has been introduced at Naivasha’s Leleshwa Area in Morendat Farm to accommodate the tens of thousands expected to attend. Naivasha is located about 90 km (56 miles) west of the capital, Nairobi.
“One of our main focuses this year is to make the rally more accessible to the public. In particular, we are focusing on people who cannot afford to go to the stages. Sometimes, accessing the rally requires driving. However, there are a few areas where fans can watch, such as Hell’s Gate on Sunday (March 23). We are also setting up a public Rally Village at Morendat Farm, located just 4 km from the Delamere Shop on the way to Nakuru,” Gacheru told reporters in Naivasha on Tuesday (March 28).
To give spectators a chance to celebrate with the winners, Gacheru announced that the prize-giving ceremony will take place at Hell’s Gate on the final day of the 2025 Safari Rally, Sunday, March 23. For the first two editions, the prize-giving ceremony was held at the Wildlife Research and Training Institute’s main Service Park before moving to Hell’s Gate last year. Hell’s Gate traditionally hosts the Wolf Power Stage—the event’s closing speed test, where the top five WRC crews earn additional championship points.
This year’s event will also count as a round of the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC) and the FIA African Rally Championship (ARC), alongside WRC support categories (WRC2 and WRC3), which will feature Kenyan drivers. Gacheru added that rally cars will be present at the Rally Village every day of the event. “On some days, they will be there to compete; on others, for autograph sessions. On days when they are not competing, we will have big screens so people can follow the rally. In 2025, we are making every effort to ensure the public can access the rally—both in person and on television. The WRC Safari Rally is broadcast live globally by WRC TV, which does an excellent job of transmission.”
Gacheru revealed that discussions are ongoing with WRC officials to have event footage shared on free-to-air television across East Africa. Additionally, organizers are implementing safety measures to ensure spectators can enjoy the rally safely. “We want them as close as possible but not too close to be unsafe,” he quipped.
–New competitive stages–
This year’s WRC Safari Rally will feature two new competitive stages: Morendat Farm in Naivasha and Camp Moran. These additions enhance the route of Africa’s only WRC round. Another notable change is the relocation of the Shakedown Stage from the traditional Loldia Stage to Sleeping Warrior in Naivasha. Organizers have capped entries at 50 cars to ensure all competitive stages conclude within daylight hours.
“All works teams have confirmed their participation, and we have received significant interest from smaller teams in the WRC2 and WRC3 categories, where we expect to see most of the Kenyan entries. We have to limit the number of entries due to safety concerns, particularly regarding air support, as helicopters cannot fly at night,” the CEO explained.
Among the top drivers expected to compete in the WRC Safari Rally are reigning world champion Thierry Neuville of Belgium, two-time WRC champion and Safari winner Kalle Rovanperä, and his Toyota Gazoo Racing teammate Sébastien Ogier, who recently won the opening round of the 2025 WRC in Monaco. The 2025 WRC Safari Rally will officially be flagged off in Nairobi by President William Ruto on March 20. The cars will then head to Kasarani for the Super Special Stage before the first competitive stage in Naivasha.
President-William-Ruto-Flags-off-Kalle-Rovanpera. Photo by WRC Safari Rally media
