With just five days to go as the W2RC heads into its third round, the South African Safari Rally, in partnership with Toyota Gazoo Racing, stands not only as a competitive milestone, but as a celebration of African rally-raid history and hospitality. From technical scrutineering to the prize-giving at Sun City, every detail has been designed to deliver a world-class experience.
It’s a landmark moment for South Africa as we prepare to host the largest field of entries in the world outside of the Dakar Rally. From Sunday 18 to Saturday 24 May, Sun City and its surrounds will be transformed into rally-raid central, with the world’s top teams arriving, containers being offloaded, and the bivouac already coming to life.
“We’ve been working around the clock to get everything in place,” says Archie Rutherford, CEO of the South African Safari Rally. “Teams like Honda Europe and Overdrive are already well into setup, and by the weekend, the full bivouac will be buzzing with activity. It’s incredible to see this level of international rally-raid infrastructure come to life right here in South Africa.”
Site Manager Kent Rutherford adds, “It’s all systems go here at the bivouac. Cargo has been arriving non-stop since last Thursday and Friday. The team is positioning everything in the correct locations, and some of the teams have already begun arriving. Forklift operators and side loaders are in action, containers are constantly being moved, and I’m on-site managing the entire process to ensure everything runs according to plan.”
With so much at stake, the South African Safari Rally promises to be one of the most demanding and visually spectacular events on the W2RC calendar – offering a true test of endurance, skill, and coordination, both on and off the track.
Did you know?
- Each Ultimate car changes its tyres daily and carries two spares. At approximately R18,000 per tyre, that’s R80,000 per car per day, and around R400,000 per car for the week – excluding punctures.
- A team like Dacia, with two cars, is looking at close to R1 million in tyre costs alone – before shipping and other expenses.
- From an organiser’s perspective, 120 tyres, including rims, marked per car, must be transported to the bivouac for the marathon stage. These are loaded at Sun City and driven 350 km in two 8-tonne trucks to the marathon start. Teams may use these tyres – but will incur a 5-minute penalty if they do.
- Hydration is a massive logistical task: around 400 litres of water are consumed daily in the bivouac – that’s 800 bottles a day, not including the 20 cases per day required at refuel points, start and finish locations, and for marshals.
Signing off the Road Book
The Opening Crew from ASO (Amaury Sport Organisation) – the global promoters of the FIA and FIM World Rally-Raid Championship – arrived this week to begin final route checks and sign off on the Road Book.
“The organising team has been planning, scouting and refining the South African Safari Rally (SASR) route for almost a year,” says Rutherford. “It was only in March and April that the full event reconnaissance, finalisation and mapping of the route took place, led by SASR Route Director Evan Hutchison and the ASO team.”
This week, the ASO Opening Crew will again drive every stage. “This is their last opportunity to make any final tweaks before the Road Book is locked in. We’re not anticipating major changes, but nothing is off the table at this stage,” he adds.
“This isn’t just a race,” Rutherford concludes. “It’s a mammoth logistical operation – and we’re almost ready.”
Spectators welcome!
Fans are invited to witness the magic of international rally-raid racing up close. Spectator points are free and located at each stage, giving you a chance to watch top local champions go head-to-head with the world’s best. General admission tickets and passes are available now.
“Whether you’re a hardcore motorsport fan or simply looking for an unforgettable adventure, this is your chance to experience international rally-raid history being made – right here on African soil. Don’t miss it!” concludes Rutherford.
