The countdown has begun! Next month, between the 18th and 24th of May 2025, South Africa will make motorsport history as it hosts the South African Safari Rally—Round 3 of the prestigious World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) for the first time ever.
The inaugural event, presented by event partner Toyota Gazoo Racing, is no ordinary event. It’s a global spotlight moment – and South Africa is ready to shine.
“This is definitely a defining moment for motorsport in South Africa,” says Vic Maharaj, CEO of Motorsport South Africa. “It’s about more than racing – it’s about showcasing our talent, terrain, and ability to deliver world-class events. With SA-manufactured cars making up more than half of the field, a testament to our engineering excellence and deep motorsport roots, having the event on our home ground for the first time is incredibly exciting. We believe this could open doors to even bigger opportunities, including F1 in the future.”
Anton Roux, Chairman of Motorsport South Africa, concurs. “This event has the potential to pave the way for many more international motorsport events in South Africa. It is most probably the largest international event South Africa has hosted since the last Formula 1 was held at Kyalami in 1993.”
“With entries closing at the end of April, the lineup of top local and international participants is growing and fans can expect to see some of the biggest names in international rally-raid on local soil,” says Archie Rutherford, CEO of SA Rally Raid Championship (SARRC).
Exciting news for South Africans is the inclusion of Ross Branch, Botswana’s homegrown FIM W2RC champion and fan-favourite “Kalahari Ferrari”, riding with Hero Motorsports.
Breaking news this month is also the addition of Giniel de Villiers, Dakar Rally legend, who is coming out of retirement and joining the high-octane #TeamHiluxRallyRaid for the next two seasons. Rutherford says he will be making his debut right here at the SA Safari Rally. “Having Giniel on board is like adding a turbocharger to our team,” says teammate Fouché Blignaut. “He brings unmatched experience and passion to the track.”
On the international front, headlining the entries received is, of course, Qatari star, Nasser Al-Attiyah, and French co-driver Edouard Boulanger from the Dacia Sandriders team. Al-Attiyah is not only the reigning W2RC champion but has won all three titles since this premier international rally-raid championship debuted in 2022. This is backed up by no less than five FIA World Cup for Cross-Country Rallies titles, as well as five Dakar Rally wins.
But Al-Attiyah will have to face some stiff local competition. Bracing up are the young guns from TGRSA – Saood Variawa and Guy Botterill, Neil Woolridge Motorsport’s (NWM) Gareth Woolridge – 2023 South African Rally Raid Champion and Century Racing’s Brian Baragwanath.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for our local talent, regardless of rank, to compete with and learn from the best drivers in the world. Where else would SA talent have an opportunity to share the same bivouac as these huge global Dakar stars,” says Roux.
The event will attract approximately 100 participants across the different classes.
From Sun City to the desert dunes, the W2RC route will test the best of the best in a uniquely African setting. “This is the moment we’ve worked so hard for. The world is watching – and we’re almost ready,” concludes Rutherford.
Fans can follow the action on social media (Facebook, Instagram & YouTube), meet the drivers, and get behind the scenes of this thrilling international spectacle.
