The inaugural South African Safari Rally, a new addition to the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) calendar, delivered high-octane action and dramatic twists from start to finish near the iconic Sun City resort. The event saw local heroes shine and global contenders battle fiercely across challenging terrains.
FIA Car Category: A “Toy Story” and a Dacia Uprising
The car category witnessed a captivating battle, largely dominated by Toyota Gazoo Racing, especially on home soil. The 35 km prologue saw South African champion Saood Variawa initially set the fastest time, but a one-minute penalty for a false start handed the win to his teammate, Guy Botterill. This marked Botterill’s maiden championship win, a significant achievement for the local driver. Henk Lategan, another South African from Toyota Gazoo Racing, completed a stellar 1-2 for the manufacturer, finishing just 3 seconds behind Botterill.
Stage 1 further solidified Toyota’s strong start, with Henk Lategan delivering a commanding performance, finishing 2 minutes and 38 seconds ahead of Carlos Sainz (Ford M-Sport) and 3 minutes and 34 seconds clear of Sébastien Loeb (The Dacia Sandriders). This victory marked Lategan’s third W2RC triumph.
However, the rally was far from a Toyota whitewash. Stage 3 saw a powerful Dacia retaliation. Nasser Al Attiyah (The Dacia Sandriders) became the first non-domestic driver to win a Ultimate special, claiming the stage victory by a mere 5 seconds over Carlos Sainz, despite a 2-minute speeding penalty. Crucially, a 1-minute speeding penalty for Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) handed the overall lead to Sébastien Loeb, making it a Dacia stage win and overall lead in one fell swoop.
The seesaw battle continued into Stage 4. Toyota responded with another dominant performance, with Saood Variawa taking the stage win and Henk Lategan reclaiming the overall lead. This marked Toyota’s third clean sweep of a stage in the rally.
Ultimately, Henk Lategan emerged as the national hero, securing his maiden FIA W2RC victory on home turf after a thrilling showdown with Sébastien Loeb in Stage 5. This victory not only added South Africa to the list of victorious nations in the Ultimate category but also propelled Lategan from fifth to second in the championship standings, now with 94 points, trailing Nasser Al Attiyah (114 points) by 20 points. Lucas Moraes (Toyota Gazoo Racing) secured third place overall in the rally with 89 points, solidifying his championship podium spot.
In the Manufacturers’ Championship, Toyota Gazoo Racing significantly extended their lead, now boasting 311 points, a considerable 92-point gap over The Dacia Sandriders (219 points). Ford M-Sport sits in third with 190 points.
Challenger Category: Zille Dominates, Cavigliasso Extends Lead
The Challenger category saw a strong showing from BBR Motorsport, with Pau Navarro landing the first blow in the prologue. However, the rally belonged to David Zille (BBR Motorsport), who secured three stage wins, including a hat-trick in Stage 4. Zille’s consistent performance allowed him to clinch the rally victory, holding off strong pressure from his teammate Nicolás Cavigliasso, who won Stage 5 and extended his lead in the championship.
In the FIA Rally-Raid Challenger Drivers’ Championship, Nicolás Cavigliasso (BBR Motorsport) leads with 147 points, followed by Pau Navarro (116 points) and Dania Akeel (98 points), both also from BBR Motorsport.
SSV Category: Franco’s Debut Triumph and Pinto’s Championship Lead
The SSV class was marked by a successful debut for Mário Franco (Francosport), who, after switching from Challenger, claimed his maiden W2RC win in Stage 1 and ultimately secured the rally victory. Despite mechanical issues, championship leader Alexandre Pinto (Old Friends Rally Team) won the prologue and Stage 2, successfully defending his championship lead.
Alexandre Pinto (Old Friends Rally Team) leads the FIA Rally-Raid SSV Drivers’ Championship with 168 points, followed by Enrico Gaspari (MMP) with 149 points and Michele Cinotto (CST Xtreme Plus Polaris) with 105 points.
FIM Motorbike Category: Sanders’ Unstoppable Run
In the FIM RallyGP category, Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) continued his unbeaten streak this season, proving his prowess across diverse terrains. “Chucky” clinched the prologue, followed by another victory in Stage 2 and a decisive win in Stage 3, where he became the sole record holder for most RallyGP victories with 18 wins. His dominance continued into Stage 4, securing his eleventh RallyGP victory of 2025, a new single-season record.
Sanders ultimately secured the overall victory in the South African Safari Rally, making him the first RallyGP rider to claim three consecutive wins in the season (Dakar, Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, and South African Safari Rally). He has now amassed 19 RallyGP wins and 11 specials won in a single season, setting new benchmarks.
In the FIM World Rally-Raid Championship, Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) holds a commanding lead with 88 points, a significant 35-point buffer over Luciano Benavides and Ricky Brabec, both tied at 53 points.
Rally2 Category: Docherty’s Streak and Canet’s Redemption
Local favorite Michael Docherty (BAS World KTM Racing) showcased an impressive winning streak in Rally2, extending his undefeated run since the Dakar finale. He scooped up his ninth consecutive Rally2 stage win in Stage 1, even while battling illness.
However, Edgar Canet (Red Bull KTM Factory Racing) proved to be a formidable contender, securing victory in Stage 2 and further extending his grip on the overall lead in Stage 3 and Stage 4. Canet, the Dakar winner who crashed out of the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, found redemption in South Africa, claiming the Rally2 rally victory.
In the FIM Rally-Raid Rally2 World Cup, Tobias Ebster (Hero MotoSports) holds a narrow lead with 66 points, closely pursued by Edgar Canet (63 points) and Michael Docherty (58 points), setting the stage for a thrilling championship fight.
Quad Category: Martinez and CFMoto Dominate
The quad category was a showcase of CFMoto Thunder Racing‘s strength. Gaëtan Martinez delivered a dominant performance, winning the prologue, Stage 1, Stage 3, and the final Stage 5. His teammate, Antanas Kanopkinas, also contributed to the team’s success with wins in Stage 2 and Stage 4.
Gaëtan Martinez and Antanas Kanopkinas both stand at the summit of the FIM Rally-Raid Quad World Cup with 45 points each, signaling a powerful partnership.
The South African Safari Rally delivered a thrilling spectacle, highlighting the talent of both established champions and rising stars. The W2RC now moves to Europe for the BP Ultimate Rally-Raid Portugal, scheduled from September 22 to 28, for the fourth round of the 2025 season.
