The first-ever South African Safari Rally, hosted in the North West province, reached a dramatic conclusion at the weekend as local pair Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings secured the overall title in their Toyota Gazoo Racing Hilux. The event, part of the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), saw six days of intense competition across rugged bushveld and savannah terrain, culminating in a tightly contested final stage.
Lategan and Cummings entered Stage 5 with a 39-second lead over France’s Sébastien Loeb and navigator Fabian Lurquin in their Dacia Sandriders vehicle. Despite Loeb’s reputation as a nine-time WRC champion, the South African crew held firm, finishing third in the final 100 km stage to claim victory by a narrow margin. The win marked Lategan’s first W2RC triumph, bolstered by strong local support and his recent podium finish at the 2025 Dakar Rally.
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“It was a fiercely competitive race,” Lategan said. “After Dakar, I was determined not to settle for second. The battle with top crews pushed us to our limits.”
Loeb, who recovered from a 51st-place prologue setback to challenge for the lead, praised Lategan’s performance. “We closed the gap at one point, but Henk was consistent. Securing a podium here is satisfying,” he noted. The Frenchman highlighted the unique challenges of South Africa’s narrow trails and dense vegetation, which tested drivers’ precision throughout the event.
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Qatari driver Nasser Al Attiyah, the W2RC championship leader, secured two stage wins for Dacia Sandriders — the only international competitor to claim Ultimate car class stages. Despite navigational penalties early in the rally, Al Attiyah expressed enthusiasm for South Africa’s terrain and hinted at a future return.
Brazil’s Lucas Moraes and Spanish co-driver Alejandro Monclon rounded out the car podium in third, while South African Dakar legend Giniel de Villiers finished 18th overall, praising the event’s competitive spirit.
In the RallyGP bike class, Australian Daniel Sanders extended his W2RC dominance with a third consecutive win, finishing nearly nine minutes ahead of Red Bull KTM teammate Luciano Benavides. American Ricky Brabec claimed the final stage, but Sanders’ consistency sealed the overall result. Botswana’s Ross Branch, racing close to home, faced setbacks but highlighted the event’s value as preparation for Dakar 2026.
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The quad category saw a clean sweep for CFMoto, with France’s Gaëtan Martinez taking both the stage and overall honours. South Africa’s Carien Teessen impressed with a third-place finish, crediting the camaraderie among competitors.
Argentina’s David Zille and Sebastián Cesana dominated the Challenger class, while Portugal’s Mário Franco and João Miranda celebrated an SSV victory on debut. Italy’s Enrico Gaspari added a second W2RC stage win in the side-by-side category.
Toyota Gazoo Racing South Africa’s Saood Variawa and Guy Botterill delivered steady performances, with both crews highlighting the strategic complexities of road positioning in rally-raid events. “Starting first isn’t ideal—you’re essentially clearing the path,” Variawa remarked after finishing 12th overall. Botterill, placing 13th, emphasized the team’s growing competitiveness: “We’re closing the gap to the front-runners.”
The rally’s success has bolstered South Africa’s reputation as a capable W2RC host, with organisers receiving praise for the challenging yet scenic route. Attention now shifts to the championship’s next round in Portugal, where Toyota Gazoo Racing aims to extend its manufacturers’ lead.
As dust settles on the North West province, the inaugural Safari Rally has cemented its place as a demanding addition to the global rally-raid calendar, blending technical terrain with the vibrant spirit of South African motorsport.
Although I was unable to attend the event, like many others I lived the thrills vicariously through television and social media, all of which also highlighted that, even though motorsport does not have the same following as rugby, the massive success of this event and the South African teams – especially since more than 50% of the competing vehicles were conceived, designed and built locally – is as important to the country as the Rugby World Cup.
All of this also made possible by the hundreds of people who took leave, resigned or simply ran away from home to join the amazing circus as marshalls, helpers, spectator control or officials – without whom there would be no pdium.
The South African Safari Rally formed Round 3 of the 2025 W2RC, with Round 4 scheduled for August in Portugal.
Colin Windell for Colin-on-Cars in association with
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