Ogier wins 2023 Safari Rally as Toyota makes a 1-2-3-4 finish

Sebastien Ogier during this year's rally that ended on Sunday. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

This is the second victory for the daredevil Ogier in the Safari, having won the 2021 edition when the global showpiece returned to the country after a 19-year hiatus.

"It's quite unbelievable, we are happy with the victory," Ogier said at the Wolf Power Stage in Hells Gate, where he was boisterously received by jovial Masai dancers to celebrate his victory.

The Frenchman and his navigator Vincent Landais were awarded their trophies by President William Ruto who graced the closing ceremony in Naivasha.

Toyota first achieved the 1-2-3-4 finish dream in the 1993 Safari Rally edition which was won by Juha Kankkunen.

Sebastien Ogier celebrates victory of the WRC Safari Rally kenya 2023 at the Wolf Power stage on June 25, 2023. [Stafford Ondego, Standard]

Kenya's Carl Tundo was the best placed local driver after finishing 12th in 4:11:38.6.

The rally was not a bed of roses as Hyundai duo of Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi, who were forced to retire after their machines were badly beaten by the rocky Sleeping Warrior and the fesh fesh filled Kedong stages.

The Hyundai duo returned to the championship under heavy penalties which saw Neuville finish a distant eighth in 3:55:29.5 as Lappi ( 4:12:57.4) ended the contest 13th, just below Tundo.

Greece driver George Vassilakis (Ford Fiesta) was forced out of the championship following a road accident on Saturday along the Naivasha-Nakuru Highway while driving back to the service park. He was evacuated and is in stable condition.