23-04-2025
Tough SA terrain awaits inaugural Africa World Rally-Raid Championship
The race route is the heart of any rally-raid event, and the World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) rigorously tests crews and vehicles across the globe's most demanding landscapes from May 18 to 24, 2025. For the inaugural South African Safari Rally (SASR), presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing, both international and SA competitors can anticipate a challenging and exhilarating course, showcasing South Africa's spectacular scenery, while demanding strength, endurance, speed, and agility from drivers, navigators, cars, and motorcycle riders.
Based at the Sun City resort in South Africa's North West Province, the event promises a captivating spectacle for motorsport enthusiasts, pushing teams to their limits in pursuit of victory.
The organising team has dedicated nearly a year to planning, scouting, and refining the SASR route. This culminated in a comprehensive reconnaissance in March and April, involving SASR route director Evan Hutchison and the team from Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO) – the promoter of the FIA and FIM World Rally Raid Championship.
'We covered 4 270km, through some of the most challenging terrain I have ever encountered,' said Hutchison, a multiple South African rally-raid champion with extensive experience. 'We deliberately avoided well-travelled routes, opting for rough, uncharted terrain designed to test the world's most capable off-road cars and motorcycles. Thick bush, rocky sections, and riverbeds were typical, and this is what competitors can expect for the South African Safari Rally.'
The route reconnaissance team relied on two Toyota Hilux 4x4s, heavily equipped for the arduous task. 'Crucially, we fitted Falken WildPeak M/T 265/70 R17 mud-terrain tyres on both vehicles,' Hutchison noted. 'Rugged and durable tyres are paramount for off-road driving, as punctures and sidewall damage are common in such conditions.' Falken Tyres sponsors the Prologue for all 2025 South African Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) races, making them a natural fit for this vital route assessment.
'We experienced no issues whatsoever, completing the combined 8 540km trip without a single puncture. Anyone familiar with off-road driving in this kind of terrain will appreciate how impressive this is.'
While drier conditions are expected for the South African Safari Rally, commencing with the Prologue on Monday 19 May, followed by five demanding stages across the North West Province, it will undoubtedly be a rigorous test for competitors and their vehicles at every stage.
The closing date for entries to the South African Safari Rally is April 30 2025.
Source: MotorPress
