WRC Championship leader Evans hoping to finally win Safari Rally

World Rally Championship WRC points leader Elfyn Evans is confident that a good start to the season for team Toyota bodes well as they aim to once again dominate Kenya's Safari Rally which takes place March 20 to 23.

Attention in the WRC series shifts to Africa's only race on the calendar as teams brace for the usual tough terrain the Safari offers.

Monte Carlo and Sweden hosted the first two races of the year. Evans finished second to Toyota GAZOO teammate Sebastian Ogier in Monte Carlo but then bounced back to win the Swedish leg.

He has 61 points and with it a healthy 28 point lead over Ogier in the standings and following the strong start to the season, he is aiming high on his return to the Safari.

“The Safari is a unique rally with a special set of conditions to face,” said Evans. “It’s not easy even if it’s dry, but when you add the likelihood of rain and standing water, it can be a huge challenge just to get to the end, he told WRC Media.

"The focus moves to gravel where the learning starts again with another new tyre,” Evans explained. “While not representative of the roads in Kenya, our test last week was good familiarisation with this year’s specification of the car on gravel and with the tyres,” he added.

Despite the unpredictable nature of the Kenyan race, the Welshman heads into the weekend full of confidence after a strong start to the season.

“It’s been a good start to the year for us and we can be happy with how well the first two events have gone,” he reflected.

Evans has yet to taste victory at the Safari but has come close before.

He finished fourth in 2024, third in 2023 and second in 2022.

(Quotes courtesy WRC).