Rovanpera quickest at WRC Safari Rally 2025 Shakedown

Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT's Finnish driver Kalle Rovanpera steers his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Hybrid with Finnish co-driver Jonne Halttunen during the World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya Special Stage 7 (SS7) in Naivasha [LUIS TATO / AFP

Finn superstar Kalle Rovanpera led Toyota to victory in the 2025 Safari Rally shakedown held at the 5.16km Sleeping Warrior stage in Naivasha on Wednesday, March 19, 2025.

The victory made Rovanpera's quest to defend the Safari Rally title this year known as he guns for a third title on the punishing Kenyan terrains.

The double world winner was closely followed by reigning world champion Thierry Neuville (4:36.1) of Hyundai in the cutthroat duel watched by hundreds of Kenyans who have already descended to the lakeside town to have a glimpse of the global motorsports spectacle.

Ott Tanak, the 2019 world champion came third in 4:36.4 to declare his intention for another fairy tale run six years later.

Rovanpera indicated that the victory was a great morale booster to him and the Toyota gang who are out for a fourth clean sweep in Safari Rally proper that officially revs off at the City Hallway in Nairobi today (Thursday.)

"This is one of those rallies where pace is not very important, you need to be technical. Also luck will play a big role in this championship, so ideally, everyone has a chance to lift the rally," Rovanpera underlined.

The Finn added: "I prefer racing on mud rather than fesh-fesh, the fesh fesh dust and sand always proves quite cumbersome for me."

Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya who joined hordes of spectators at Camp Moran to watch the shakedown declared that the country is much ready to host the 2025 Safari Rally showpiece that will traverse the Naivasha terrains from today till Sunday.

Selected results for 2025 Safari Rally shakedown in Sleeping Warrior

1. Kalle Rovanpera 4:34.5

2. Thierry Neuville 4:36.1
3. Ott Tanak - 4:36.4
4. Adrien Fourmaux - 4:36.7
5. Takamoto Katsuta - 4:38.0
6. Gregoire Munster - 4:39.7
7. Elfyn Evans - 4:40.8
8. Joshua McErlean - 4:44.2
9. Solberg Oliver - 4:47.1
10. Pajari Sammy - 4:48.5