Who will stop Toyota from flying to fifth title in Naivasha?

There is an adage in motorsports that says success comes and goes in cycles, but it seems the high-flying Toyota Gazoo Racing team has defied this proverb on Kenyan soil!

Since the World Rally Championship (WRC) status returned to the country in 2021, after a 19-year hiatus, Toyota Gazoo has turned the annual Safari Rally in Naivasha into their playing ground, shattering records left, right and centre.

Besides, the Japanese constructors have been alternating the Safari Rally titles between their two trailblazing speed merchants; Frenchman Sebastien Ogier and the young "Flying Finn" Kalle Rovanpera.

The duo has led Toyota to back-to-back victories in the Safari for the last four years, and now Toyota seems to even be thirstier for a fifth title in the 2025 edition slated for the lakeside town on March 20-23.

The million-dollar question is, will Toyota manage a fifth Safari Rally crown in the absence of Ogier who has been a permanent fixture in Naivasha in the last four editions?

Former Kenya Two-Wheel Drive navigator champion Wayne Fernandes who is a staunch Toyota fan says: “This year, it’s still Toyota to the bank. I have been a Toyota fan from the days of their Celica version driven by Carlos Sainz, our local hero Ian Duncan and the late Jonathan Toroitich aka JT. Kalle will rise to the occasion and carry the day, in the absence of Ogier.”

Mombasa-based navigator Victor Okundi, on his part, said: “This season is definitely going to be very exciting because the cars have just raw engine power which demands a more consistent driving style without over reliance on additional hybrid power.

“There’s also the unknown territorial performance in the newly introduced tyres, this makes each leg of the WRC circuit a blank cheque for the teams to write their quests, especially in the first half of the season.”

Okundi is thrilled to reveal the fact that the support category which is the Rally2 (WRC2) is also becoming super competitive year in year out. 

“The entry of Toyota into the WRC2 this year has brought in serious competition to Sköda, who won’t be able to sit pretty this season," he said.

As Toyota Gazoo Racing will be chasing a fifth straight gong in the rough Naivasha terrains, Hyundai Motorsports WRT and M-Sport Ford will be in the mix to hunt for the elusive crown on the punishing landscape that has left the two bruised and limping in the previous editions.

Toyota, who will use the GR Yaris Rally1 cars has a formidable line up for this year’s Safari Rally comprising debutant Sami Pajari, Japanese Takamoto Katsuta, Rovanperä and Evans. 

The Hyundai squad who will use i20 N Rally1 machines include current world champion Thierry Neuville, 1999 champion Ott Tänak and Fourmaux. This is the first time Hyundai has fielded three full-time drivers for an entire season. 

M-Sport Ford will compete in the Safari with three Ford Puma Rally1 cars and their contingent are Grégoire Munster, Josh McErlean, and ‘old boy’ Jourdan Serderidis. 

Toyota Gazoo Racing has already secured a one-two finish in the 2025 WRC opening legs in Rallye Monte Carlo (France) and Rally Sweden, demonstrating their dominance in the season in the early days.

Toyota is also leading the constructor’s standings on 120 points going into the Safari Rally. Hyundai are on 72 while M-sport Ford are perched third on 25.