NAIROBI: TANZANIAN envoys in the 2025 World Rally Championship, Yassin Nasser and Prince Charles Nyerere today tested their driving skills against the world stars ahead of tomorrow’s Super Special Stage at Kasarani Stadium in Nairobi.
The envoys showed their muscles in the Safari Rally’s shakedown stage against the world stars, including Kalle Rovanpera who won the stage.
As the Kenyan Safari Rally comes as the third round of the 2025 World Rally Championship, it is also the opening round of the African Rally Championship (ARC).
The event’s first round revved off with a 5.16km shakedown stage today, Wednesday, March 20, 2025.
The two-time WRC champion Rovanpera, registered the fastest time and 1.6 seconds faster than Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville.
Hyundai’s Ott Tanak completed the top three followed by Adrian Fourmaux while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta completed the top five.
Having fine-tuned their cars, the crew will start the rally proper tomorrow with the ceremonial start at the Kenyan International Convention Center in the Kenyan capital Nairobi.
After the ceremonial start Nasser, Prince Nyerere, and other crews will head to the Kasarani grounds for the Super Special Stage.
Though Toyota Gazoo remains the favourite to win the Safari rally yet again, there is anticipation that Ford Fiesta and Mitsubishi Evos will be big challengers.
Yassin Nassir, who will be guided by his Ugandan navigator, Ally Katumba has opted to drive Ford Fiesta while Prince Nyerere will be firing his Mitsubishi Evo X.
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The Moil Team driver, Nasser is a Tanzanian driver based in Uganda, but he competes in the Tanzanian rounds of the National Rally Championship(NRC).
He won the national championship in 2023
But there’ll be no time for easy celebrations as the African classic hosts round three of the 2025 season.
Regarded as the toughest test in WRC, Safari Rally Kenya is the first gravel event of the year and takes place in the stunning Great Rift Valley, where lions, leopards, giraffes, and zebras roam just meters from the action.
Nasser’s Ford Fiesta has been given number 40 while Prince Nyerere’s Mitsubishi has been marked 46th car.
After a ceremonial start, crews will head to Kisarani Stadium where they will open the dusty road showdown in a 4.76km- Super Special Stage.
The next round will be staged at Camp Moran a 32.20km stage.
Other stages will be staged at Loldia(19.11km), then a 13.12km stage at Geothermal.
Tanzania Yaasin Nasser had to be very careful at Kedong section as it is the spot where his car rolled last year. It is a 15.10km- competitive section.
