Hyundai’s Ott Tanak takes early lead as 2025 WRC Safari Rally gets underway
Former world rally champion, Tanak stormed through the wet stage of Day 1 of the 2025 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally on top of the leaderboard on Thursday.
The third round of the 2025 WRC championship had earlier in the day been flagged off by Kenyan president William Ruto before series leader Elfyn Evans stormed to an early lead in the opening Super Spectator Stage (4.76km) in Kasarani, Nairobi.
Tanak, the Hyundai Shell Mobis team driver and 2019 World Rally Champion however, ended advantage of the Japanese Toyota Gazoo Racing star Elfyn’s lead after the 8.15km long second Mzabibu Stage.
“The Day was better day and very happy that we are leading after the first day. Short stages for the day, but the second (Mzabibu) was quite demanding with some wet grass in places.
“Tomorrow will be a completely different day game as we endure the real safari,” Tanak told RoraMedia.
The Estonian mastered the wet new stage after the cars returned to Naivasha from the Kenyan capital Nairobi to set the fastest time and shoot up from fourth after Kasarani to the overnight lead in 9:52.3.
It was the first time since the Safari Rally returned to the WRC in 2021 that drivers drove two stages on the first day of the event.
“The real Safari starts tomorrow. and to check that everything is working well.
