Driving through dust and grit to find glory, rally racers have set their hearts on finishing the South African Safari Rally with locals looking at the top of the log!
South Africa (20 May 2025) – The heart of the bushveld thundered back to life as the South African Safari Rally proudly presented by Toyota Gazoo Racing fired off the starting line, marking a monumental return of world-class motorsport to South African soil. After a thrilling weekend of testing at Sun City, the prologue of Round 3 of the 2025 World Rally-Raid Championship delivered a high-speed showcase of strategy, precision, and proudly South African grit.
With 95 cars, 37 bikes, and four quads lining up for the challenge, the short but brutal 9 km prologue stage near Lichtenburg offered a classic taste of North West’s off-road DNA. Bush-lined twin tracks, pockets of tight forest and unpredictable grip levels tested riders, drivers, and navigators from the very first corner, all against the backdrop of one of the most important motorsport events the country has hosted in over three decades.
The Prologue: More Than Just a Warm-Up
What might appear to be a short sprint on paper proved to be a critical stage for competitors. The prologue determines starting positions for Stage 1 and in rally-raid, that means everything. Too far up the road, and you’re the one clearing the dust and grass for the others. Too far back, and you’re stuck eating that dust. The sweet spot? Somewhere in the middle, and every racer knew it.
For the bikes and quads, it was a battle of nerves and nimbleness. France’s Gaëtan Martinez (CFMoto Thunder Racing) led the quads, but all eyes were on South Africa’s Carien Teessen, the lone female in the class, who placed an impressive fourth on her Yamaha Raptor 700.
In the two-wheeled category, Dakar champion Daniel Sanders (Red Bull KTM) topped the charts, but it was South Africa’s Michael Docherty who turned heads, finishing third overall and fastest in Rally2, earning his sixth W2RC prologue win. Other Southern African favourites, like Ross Branch and Bradley Cox, kept their powder dry with steady performances just inside the top 15, knowing the long game is where rally-raid battles are won.
Home Turf Advantage: SA Drivers Dominate Cars
In the car category, local knowledge and off-road mastery saw South African talent sweep the prologue podium despite some early heartbreak.
Saood Variawa and French navigator Francois Cazalet clocked the fastest time in their TGRSA Hilux, only to be hit with a one-minute penalty for a jumped start. That opened the door for Gareth Woolridge and Boyd Dreyer in the NWM Evo Plus to claim the top spot.
“Dust is going to be a major factor,” Woolridge said. “It’s drier than it looks, and teams are going to get punctures.”
TGRSA teammates Guy Botterill and Dennis Murphy placed second, with rally veterans Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings, fresh from Dakar, claiming third in a Hilux run by Toyota’s European team. The top three? All South African drivers. All locally-built vehicles. All heart.
Legends Struggle as Conditions Turn Technical
Not everyone had it their way. Rally-raid royalty Nasser Al Attiyah and Edouard Boulanger struggled on the slippery, grass-lined routes, finishing 12th. Meanwhile, WRC legend Sébastien Loeb, tipped to do well in the tight sections — had a nightmare outing, missing multiple junctions and landing down in 51st.
“It was very challenging,” Loeb admitted. “So little grip, and the junctions were tricky. We lost a lot of time.”
Loeb and his co-driver Fabian Lurquin will now have to open Stage 1, a punishing 260 km special through the dust-heavy farmlands around Lichtenburg. It’s a position no one envies, but one that could make for thrilling comebacks.
What’s Next: The Long Road Through Lichtenburg
Stage 1 will test everything from speed to stamina. The route winds through maize fields and narrow bushveld, with fast straights, sandy technical sections, and relentless terrain demanding razor-sharp navigation. Winds are expected to pick up by midday, good news for teams further back, hoping for clearer visibility.
For South Africa, this rally is more than just a round of the W2RC, it’s a declaration. We’ve not only brought international motorsport home, we’re leading the charge, showcasing world-class talent, locally-built machinery, and an undeniable passion for racing that runs deeper than dust.
One thing’s clear: South Africa is no longer just part of the rally story. We’re back at the front of the pack.
Sources: SA Rally Raid / Red Bull Content Pool
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