WRC 2025 result after Round 3: Safari Rally Kenya

Toyota Gazoo Racing continued its FIA World Rally Championship campaign with Elfyn Evans delivering the team’s fifth successive win in the Safari Rally Kenya — widely acknowledged as the roughest and toughest since the epic African event returned to the calendar in 2021. How did this WRC 2025 result play out? Read on as we review each day’s activities.

WRC 2025 result: Safari Rally Kenya

This year’s Safari Rally marked Toyota Gazoo Racing’s milestone 100th event in the FIA World Rally Championship since the team’s debut in 2017. What’s more, having scored a one-two finish and maximum points from each of the first two rallies of the 2025 season, Toyota has enjoyed a better start than any other manufacturer in the modern era. Little wonder that the team came into the iconic Safari Rally with high hopes of securing its fifth consecutive win in modern history.

As the longest of any WRC round, the Safari Rally provides a unique challenge for teams and drivers. Some sections are extremely rough and rocky, while others consist of powder-soft sand that can be just as hard to negotiate. Rain has the potential to turn the usually dry tracks into mud, but teams are allowed to fit snorkel systems to help cars breathe clear air. As this was the first gravel rally with new rules and tyres, some adaptation was necessary, especially as pre-event testing is not possible outside of Europe.

Day 1

Following two days of reconnaissance and a useful shakedown the day before, crews moved to Kenya’s capital Nairobi for the start ceremony. This was immediately followed by the spectacular side-by-side super special, where championship leader Elfyn Evans went quickest to claim the early lead.

Then came an all-new challenge in the form of the Mzabibu stage on more traditional Kenyan tracks near the service park. This five-mile test provided a considerable shake-up in the order, with Takamoto Katsuta going second quickest and moving into the same position overall. Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanperä and Evans finished fourth and fifth overall, with Sami Pajari seventh on his Safari debut.

Day 2

The longest day of the rally began with the longest stage, a 20-mile test that featured both rocky stretches and sections of soft sand. Evans and Rovanperä made it cleanly through to establish themselves in second and third overall — respective positions they retained for the rest of the morning. Though slowed by a half-spin in stage four, Rovanperä added a win in stage five to consolidate his position. Their team-mates were less fortunate in the gruelling opening stage with Takamoto Katsuta finishing with tyre damage and Sami Pajari stopping to change a wheel. Both dropped over two minutes yet remained well within the top ten.

The second pass of the day’s opening test was even rougher but all four Toyotas made it through cleanly. Evans and Rovanperä capitalised on their performance by commandeering the top of the leaderboard in stage nine. Rovanperä was quickest again in two of the remaining afternoon stages, while Evans was able to finish just 7.7 seconds behind despite being slowed by a rear puncture. Katsuta sustained more tyre damage in stage nine but was just 0.3 seconds short of Rovanperä’s best time in stage ten. He finished fifth overall, one place ahead of Kenya newcomer Pajari.

WRC 2025 result: Day 3

Day three’s action centred on a trio of classic Safari stages, adjacent to Lake Elmenteita. As well as posing a high risk of tyre and car damage from large rocks, overnight rain meant the stages were treacherous. Championship leader Evans mastered the conditions well, winning the opening two stages and setting a 90-plus second lead over Rovanperä, who dropped time following tyre damage. Meanwhile, Katsuta continued his fight back from the previous day’s punctures, including a win on stage 13.

Fresh rain made conditions even more difficult for the afternoon, particularly in the opening test, where Evans was among those to spin but remained in the lead. Katsuta was fastest despite his own heart-in-mouth moment, and Rovanperä remained second but sustained rear suspension damage that forced him to run at reduced speed. Conditions remained extremely slippery through the final two tests but Evans made it through with his lead standing at just under two minutes.

Day 4

Arriving at the final day with an advantage of almost two minutes allowed Evans to take a judicious approach to the final five stages. Of course, the temptation was there to push for extra points, but broader circumstances within the team meant it was important to get the car safely to the finish. Which the Welshman dutifully did, with more than a minute to spare.

Those circumstances included two unfortunate retirements from team-mates Rovanperä and Katsuta — an electrical issue and a roll being the respective causes. Thankfully, young Pajari continued his impressively mature performance to gain fourth place overall at the finish of his first ever Safari Rally, having avoided major trouble and gained significant new experience.

Successive victories in Sweden and Kenya mean Evans now leads the drivers’ championship by 36 points after three rounds. He and co-driver Scott Martin were joined on the podium by deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen, who celebrated 40 years since scoring his maiden WRC win as a driver on the same event with Toyota. This latest win extended Toyota’s all-time record on the event to 13 victories.

WRC 2025 result in Round 3: Safari Rally Kenya

WRC 2025 championship standings: drivers and co-drivers

WRC 2025 championship standings: manufacturers

WRC 2025: Where next?

The fourth round of the WRC 2025 calendar is the Rally Islas Canarias. This new event for 2025 takes place on 24-27 April and marks a return to Spanish territory for the first time since 2022. Its asphalt roads are rich in volcanic lava, which should provide grip — and drama — in abundance.

Learn more: How did last year’s WRC end for Toyota?