In a major triumph for South African Motorsport, Motorsport South Africa (MSA) has applauded the breaking news that a brand-new race is set to make its debut in 2025. A new addition has been added to the world championship calendar and South Africa has been selected to host a round of the highly acclaimed World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC) in May 2025.
The South African Safari Rally, which forms round three of the 2025 W2RC, will take place from 18 to 24 May 2025 and will be preceded by the celebrated 2025 Dakar Rally before heading to Abu Dhabi in late February. This will be the first time in the history of the W2RC that Africa sets the scene for two championship rounds.
Attracting the world’s leading superstars on two and four wheels, the rally will be hosted in the Northwest and Limpopo provinces of South Africa and will be held in collaboration with Motorsport SA (MSA) and endorsed by the Federation Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), Fédération Internationale de Motocyclisme (FIM) – the governing bodies of all global motorsport, and Amaury Sport Organisation (ASO), the promoter of the W2RC and the organiser of the Dakar Rally,
The announcement was released last night on the eve of Rallye du Maroc, the final round of the 2024 W2RC season taking place from 5 to 11 October 2024 in the Kingdom of Morocco.
Reacting to the announcement, Minister of Sports, Arts and Culture, Gayton McKenzie, released a statement saying, “This event is going to boost tourism for South Africa, boost women in racing, generate income to grow the sport in South Africa, help to create jobs in rural areas and put the country back on the map for global motorsport. In our quest to secure the return of Formula One, a successful Safari Rally will only help to strengthen our burgeoning relationship with the FIA,” said the Minister, adding that he was encouraged by the positivity shown by world motorsport’s governing body towards South Africa.
He added, “I also want to commend the hard-working people at Motorsport South Africa and the local promoters, the South African Rally-Raid Championship and their team, who have managed to deliver this good news to a country that is already feeling so much optimism during our new era of the Government of National Unity, led by President Cyril Ramaphosa.”
An elated Archie Rutherford, SARRC CEO, comments, “This is an extremely exciting and very proud moment for us as organisers of the SA Rally-Raid Championship (SARRC) and the numerous South Africans competing in the Dakar Rally and other international events. My team put a lot of hard work, long hours and dedicated planning into Event Zero, the TGRSA Safari 1000 in June, and the outcome could not be more rewarding.”
Rutherford confirms race headquarters and associated event facilities will be based at the world-renowned Sun City complex adjacent to the Pilanesberg National Park. “This unique event will feature diverse terrain, with the race route traversing some of the most stunning bushveld plateaus, river crossings, and savannah plains, encompassing an exceptional experience for all in the areas of Sun City, Thabazimbi and the agricultural heart of Northwest,” he says.
The SARRC field is arguably the strongest of all the national rally-raid championships globally. Vic Maharaj, Motorsport South Africa Chief Executive Officer says this announcement heralds a new era for South African Motorsport and the South African Rally Raid championship. “Significantly South Africa and the SARRC have a proud reputation in the international world rally raid arena. With no less than 50% of vehicles competing in the iconic Dakar Rally and the esteemed W2RC events designed, developed and built in South Africa, it is fitting that we finally can host one of the rounds of this iconic championship on home ground,” says Maharaj.
FIA President, Mohammed Ben Sulayem, concurs expressing his enthusiasm for the 2025 cross-country rally season. “The FIA World Rally-Raid Championship continues to set the benchmark for cross-country rallying, and we are delighted to witness its growing success, both in terms of competition and global presence. It is pleasing to see the inclusion of South Africa in the calendar, and I look forward to following the action amidst the untamed landscapes Africa has to offer. The 2025 cross-country rally season will feature seasoned competitors and new challengers showcasing the FIA’s innovative technologies, all set against some of the most magnificent environments on the planet,” he concludes.
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Issued for MSA by Cathy Findley PR