With its rich history in rally-raid development and competitive success, South Africa will soon be hosting the world championship it helped shape, and the entry list for the first World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) event to be held in Southern Africa reflects the occasion. The South African Safari Rally, brought to you by Toyota Gazoo Racing, forms Round 3 of this year’s W2RC calendar, and takes place from the Sun City Resort in North West Province from 18-24 May 2025.
In the FIA car category, the Ultimate class brings together a veritable who’s who of off-road royalty. Nasser Al-Attiyah and Sébastien Loeb spearhead the formidable effort from The Dacia Sandriders. Al-Attiyah is the reigning W2RC champion, the winner of the previous round at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge and the current championship leader along with navigator Edouard Boulanger. Team-mate Loeb is a multiple World Rally champion and regular podium finisher in the rally-raid series, and is a formidable contender for the win with Fabian Lurquin in the navigator’s seat.
Former Dakar Rally winners and motorsport legends Carlos Sainz and Nani Roma return to competition behind the wheels of the two Ford M-Sport Raptor entries. Sainz is joined by navigator Lucas Cruz, while Roma is guided by Alex Haro.
The X-RAID MINI JCW Team adds further depth to the field with their accomplished duo of Guillaume de Mévius/Xavier Panseri and João Ferreira/Filipe Palmeiro.
TOYOTA GAZOO Racing is coming out with all guns blazing, thanks to a five-strong lineup of GR Hilux EVOs. Brazilian star Lucas Moraes and Spanish navigator Armand Monleon are joined by American ace Seth Quintero and navigator Dennis Zenz. There’s a trio of local favourites too, comprising this year’s Dakar Rally second-place finishers Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, the youngest Dakar stage winner in the car category Saood Variawa and navigator François Cazalet, as well as Guy Botterill/Dennis Murphy – all determined to make the most of their home advantage on African soil.
There are a further four international Overdrive Racing Toyota Hilux entries, and a pair of #TeamHilux entries from South Africa that includes former Dakar Rally winner Giniel de Villiers.
Additional entries with experienced championship-winning local and international drivers and navigators from PS Laser Racing, Century Racing, Red-Lined Motorsport and Neil Woolridge Motorsport bolster the Ultimate class field, and promise top-tier competition for rally-raid fans.
In the Challenger class, four entries will be vying for victory in the BBR Motorsport Taurus T3 Max. Dakar Rally winner Nicolas Cavigliasso and navigator Valentina Pertegarini will be aiming to claim back the championship lead from team-mates Pau Navarro/Lisandro Sisterna. They will also be up against two other crews from the same squad, comprising David Zille/Sebastian Cesana and Dania Akeel/Stephane Duple. Numerous other rivals are aiming to spoil their fun, including the South African team of Puck Klaassen and Charan Moore.
In the SSV (side-by-side vehicle) class, the goal for Alexandre Pinto and Bernardo Oliviera will be to extend their championship lead in the Can-Am Maverick R. They will have the MMP entries of Enrico Gaspari/Fausto Mota and Claude Fournier/Patrick Jimbert hot on their tail, along with a pair of CST Xtreme Plus Polaris entries and several other serious rivals.
Motorcycles
In the FIM’s top RallyGP motorcycle category, the Austrian Red Bull KTM team is hoping to make it three in a row at the South African Safari Rally, as Daniel Sanders won both the opening race at the Dakar Rally and Round 2 in Abu Dhabi. He will be joined by team-mate Luciano Benavides on the second KTM 450 Rally.
Botswana’s Ross Branch leads a two-rider effort from Hero Motosports, joined by José Ignacio Cornejo. The Monster Energy Honda HRC team arrives in force with an impressive four riders ready to challenge for the win, comprising Ricky Brabec, Skyler Howes, Adrien van Beveren, and Tosha Schareina.
Adding to the local flair, South Africa’s Bradley Cox makes his debut with the Sherco Rally Factory Team after his recent signing with the team. Cox is competing in RallyGP this year after having won the Rally2 class in 2024.
Current Rally2 championship leader Tobias Ebster has joined the Hero Motosports team leading up to the South African Safari Rally, and will be giving it everything to build on his points lead.
South African rider Michael Docherty will be eagerly cheered on by local supporters in the Rally2 category, especially after he won the previous round at the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge. He is part of the BAS World KTM Racing Team that is bringing Nathan Rafferty, Filip Grot, Libor Pletka and Konrad Dabrowski to compete in the South African event. With no less than 23 riders racing in the Rally2 class at the South African Safari Rally, there will be fierce competition for the podium positions.
Five riders have been confirmed for the Malle Moto class. They compete in the full race and have to complete their own maintenance on the motorcycles throughout the event, making it an extreme test of man and machine. There are three riders from France, comprising Benjamin Pousset, Florian Banchilon and Matthieu Jauffraud. Jatin Jain joins the action from India, along with South African-based Belgian rider Xavier Gregoire.
In the Quad category Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge winner Antanas Kanopkinas leads the charge on his CFMOTO Thunder Racing machine, and will be joined by the previous round’s other podium finishers, team-mate Gaetan Martinez, and Marek Loj on a Yamaha Raptor 700. South African Carien Teessen is the fourth contender on another Yamaha Raptor 700.
The route
The South African Safari Rally offers a diverse and demanding route, specifically designed to showcase the natural beauty and technical challenge of Southern Africa. All stages begin and end at Sun City, except for the Marathon Stage, which includes an overnight at a remote bivouac near Stella. Here, competitors must service their own vehicles – without outside support.
- Prologue (19 May): A 9 km blast just outside Sun City sets the stage, combining tight bush trails with fast gravel
- Stage 1 (20 May): Loops west toward Lichtenburg, blending sand tracks and open farm roads (262 km special)
- Stage 2 (21 May): Heads into Barberspan’s savannah and off-piste terrain (352 km), ending at the marathon bivouac
- Stage 3 (22 May): Loops back from Stella, with long, fast sections and tricky navigation (253 km)
- Stage 4 (23 May): A punishing 224 km route into Skilpadshek, featuring rocky mountain sections and technical bushveld
- ·Stage 5 (24 May): A short, sharp 118 km loop through red dust and farmland returns the rally to Sun City for the finish
The climate in May is cool and dry, with daytime highs around 25°C and early morning temperatures as low as 5°C — ideal for high-performance engines, but a challenge for tired riders at the marathon bivouac.
A rally for the continent
As the W2RC heads into its third round, the South African Safari Rally 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.
More than just a race, this is Africa’s invitation to the world – to feel the dust, hear the roar, and witness rally-raid’s global elite take on the toughest terrain the continent has to offer.
