Safari Rally Kenya: Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crew wants to repeat last year’s WRC2 success

› British-Swedish duo Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson travels to the FIA World Rally Championship’s toughest round as WRC2 win defenders.
› Škoda stablemates Fabrizio Zaldivar from Paraguay and Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian also aim for a WRC2 podium result.
› Local Škoda crews want to shine against strong foreign competitors in the WRC2 category.

The Safari Rally Kenya (19-23 March 2025), is not only the toughest, but with roughly 385 kilometres of special stages also the longest round of the FIA World Rally Championship. The entry list features nine Škoda crews, including last year’s WRC2 winners Gus Greensmith from the United Kingdom and Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson.

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Last year, they were unstoppable on the gravel stages around Lake Naivasha: Briton Gus Greensmith and Swedish co-driver Jonas Andersson led WRC2 from start to finish at the Safari Rally Kenya. “It was very special for me to celebrate my first WRC2 victory in Kenya,” said Greensmith. “Two facts give me confidence for the upcoming event: The Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 is one of the fastest WRC2 cars and it has proven its reliability on the extremely tough stages of East Africa.” In 2024, three Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 crews stood on the WRC2 podium at the Safari Rally Kenya.

For Paraguayan Fabrizio Zaldivar and Italian co-driver Marcelo Der Ohannesian, the contrast could not be greater: One month ago, they finished sixth in the WRC2 category in sub-zero temperatures on the ice and snow-covered stages of the Swedish Rally. This weekend, they will take their Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 onto the African plains and gravel tracks, which alternate between rocky, muddy and sandy.

As big fans of the only African round of the WRC, Polish Škoda crew Daniel Chwist/Kamil Heller have entered the Safari Rally Kenya already for the fourth time. The Škoda Fabia is also a favourite of local teams, as entries of Kenyans Karan Patel/Tauseef Khan, Jeremiah Wahome/Victor Okundi, Aakif Virani/Zahir Shah and Samman Singh Vohra show, who will be joined by British co-driver Drew Sturrock. In total, nine Škoda crews are entered into WRC2.

Like last season, the 2025 Safari Rally Kenya could prove to be a special challenge. For the second year running, the rally has returned to its traditional early spring date. At this time of the year, the weather is most unpredictable, with intermittent heavy rains easily turning the stages into a real mud bath. As a result, the rally cars can be fitted with ‘snorkels’ to allow clean air to enter the engine during water crossings or muddy sections.

Safari Rally Kenya, third round of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship, features 21 special stages covering 384.86 kilometres. A short show stage on the outskirts of the nation’s capital Nairobi kicks off the action on Thursday (20 March). Friday (21 March) is the longest day of the rally with eight special stages covering 159.06 kilometres. Saturday (22 March) sees another 147.02 kilometres of stages. On Sunday (23 March), the podium ceremony awaits the crews immediately after the finish of the iconic Hell’s Gate power stage at around 15h30.

Did you know, that…

. . . in 2024, six Škoda crews finished inside the top 10 of WRC2? The podium was an all-Škoda affair with all Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson winning.
. . . in 2001, German duo Armin Schwarz/Manfred Hiemer finished third overall with a factory Škoda Octavia WRC Evo2?
. . . the Safari Rally Kenya was part of the world championship’s inaugural season 1973 and returned to the calendar in 2021 after a 19-year hiatus?

Standings WRC2/Drivers (after 2 of 14 rallies)
1 Yohan Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 25 points
2 Oliver Solberg (SWE), Toyota, 25 points
3 Roope Korhonen (FIN), Toyota, 17 points
4 Eric Camilli (FRA), Hyundai, 17 points
5 Léo Rossel (FRA), Citroën, 15 points
6 Mikko Heikkilä (FIN), Škoda, 15 points

2025 FIA World Rally Championship