Sébastien Ogier is eager to return to Kenya for the Safari Rally

The World Rally Championship competitors will return to Kenya next week for the Safari Rally, the sixth edition in its modern format since the event's return to the international calendar in 2021. The reigning World Champion, Sébastien Ogierwill take the opportunity to make his second appearance of the season after the Rally Monte Carlo finished in third place. The Gap native had missed the Swedish Rally, justifying his absence by saying he needed a break after months dedicated to the quest for his ninth title, and will therefore return to the event after missing the last two editions. "I'm eager to return to this magnificent country and experience the enthusiasm of the African fans again," he said a few days before the start of the rally, which will not be visiting Nairobi as we reported a few weeks ago.

A wet Safari Rally this year? That's what Sébastien Ogier thinks.

Held in June for the 2021, 2022, and 2023 editions, and then at the end of March in 2024 and 2025, the rally is being moved forward by another week this year, taking place from March 12th to 15th. The weather conditions may therefore be different from those encountered in previous editions: "This will be the first time I've been there so early in the year, and it looks like the weather will be wetter than I've experienced in the past," confirmed the driver of the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 bearing the number 1. The last time Sébastien Ogier and Vincent Landais went to Kenya was in 2023 and the participation resulted in a victory, the third for the duo who had formed at the end of 2022. Hope is therefore high, especially as Toyota usually performs well on this rally (all editions, since 2021, have been won by a Toyota) and the World Champions will start in the second group of Rally1 cars, since they are currently "only" sixth in the championship.

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