The hills around Naivasha will once again reverberate with the thunderous roar of Rally1 and Rally2 machines as the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) gets underway.  

It has been an intense build-up for the crews, especially for international competitors who arrived at the weekend and immediately embarked on a two-day reconnaissance schedule on Monday and Tuesday. Their preparations culminate in Wednesday’s 5.00km Shakedown Stage at Sleeping Warrior, a crucial curtain-raiser where teams fine-tune their setups and warm up their engines before the rally officially kicks off on Thursday. The ceremonial start at City Hall Way will set the pace for what lies ahead, with the first competitive stages at Kasarani and Mzabibu.   

Kenya’s rally scene will be well represented, with former national champion Jasmeet Chana, popularly known as “Iceman,” already buzzing with confidence.  

Kenyan drivers 

He will be driving a Rally2 Fiesta, though he won’t be scoring WRC2 points as he hasn’t registered for the category. Other notable Kenyan drivers include reigning national champion Samman Vohra, Africa Rally Champion Karan Patel, Carl “Flash” Tundo, and paraplegic driver Nikhil Sachania, who will be competing in a hand-controlled Rally3 car.  

“Well all the stages we recced on Monday are passable, so let’s see how its goes but the highlight and tail stinger will be Sleeping Warrior,” said Jasmeet who skipped last year’s Safari due to the late arrival of his Fiesta. 

This week’s Safari Rally is the only event on the WRC calendar where the cars look visibly different — a testament to the brutal challenge that awaits the teams. 

The cars will tackle some of the roughest roads of the season, battling extreme terrain and unpredictable weather now that the heavens have opened. 

The most striking modification is definitely the snorkel. This crucial addition helps engines breathe during deep water crossings, a necessity in a rally spanning 384 competitive kilometres — making it the longest of the year. 

The cars also stand taller than usual, with raised suspension to handle relentless undulations and bone-crushing rocks. But Safari isn’t just about survival; it’s about speed. 

High-speed compression is a key factor here — while the roads are punishing, they’re also lightning-fast in places. Having suspension that can soak up the hits while maintaining stability is the difference between success and disaster. 

And it’s not just the chassis getting special treatment. The engine maps are fine-tuned to compensate for the high-altitude conditions of Naivasha. With thinner air sapping power, every tweak counts as crews rip across the breathtaking African plains. 

This year’s Safari will also see Sami Pajari of Toyota Gazoo Racing and Josh McErlean – M-Sport’s newest inclusion -debut the Safari. 

Young gun Pajari 

23-year-old Finn Pajari is tackling his first full season in a GR Yaris Rally1 and relishes the opportunity to endure the punishing African terrain. “The season has started with some very specific rallies,” Pajari told WRC.COM, adding: “So it’s not been easy, but so far we have done some nice stage times and had many positive moments, and hopefully it can continue like this in Kenya.” 

“I was there for the recce last year, so I know a little bit what the roads are like, but it’s still going to be a huge challenge. The target though is just to gain as much experience as we can, but we’re also there to do our best and in a rally like this, anything can happen. It will be tough, but I’m looking forward to the challenge.” 

Welshman Elfyn Evans won Rally Sweden after a dramatic final-day tussle with Toyota stable-mate Takamoto Katsuta to go top of the WRC log. 

Reflecting on a tough safari weekend, Elfyn offered: “The Safari is a unique rally with a special set of conditions to face. It’s not easy even if it’s dry, but when you add the likelihood of rain and standing water, it can be a huge challenge just to get to the end. The focus moves to gravel where the learning starts again with another new tyre. While not representative of the roads in Kenya, our test last week was good familiarity with this year’s specification of the car on gravel and with the tyres.” 

The safari Itinerary will be highlighted by some of the most iconic speed tests. 

Although shortened for 2025, Kedong still retains its famous Miti Mbili jump and sections of deep fesh-fesh sand that will test both car reliability and driver stamina. 

Sleeping Warrior (26.88km) will be the first stage on Saturday, Sleeping Warrior runs early in the day, potentially with morning mist and low sun adding an extra test of visibility. 

Hell’s Gate (10.53km-SS19/21) will definitely be a fan-favourite stage known for its stunning scenery. Hell’s Gate will be the venue for the Wolf Power Stage – running over the same rugged tracks that have produced some of the most iconic images of the Safari Rally.