The Toyota Gazoo speedster finished ahead of teammate and world champion Kalle Rovanpera by 6.7 seconds as Ogier wins 2023 Safari Rally, and the race came to an end yesterday in Naivasha, clocking a time of 3:30:42.5.
Elfyn Evans (3:33:41.0) and Takamoto Katsuta (3:34:06.3) finished third and fourth, respectively, for Toyota, completing a three-peat in the Kenyan leg.
Ogier, a daredevil, has won the Safari twice; the first time was in 2021, when the event returned to the nation after a 19-year absence.
Ogier stated at the Wolf Power Stage in Hells Gate, where he was raucously greeted by joyful Masai dancers to celebrate his victory, “It’s very unbelievable, we are thrilled with the victory.
President William Ruto, who attended the closing ceremony in Naivasha, presented the Frenchman and his navigator Vincent Landais with their awards.
Toyota initially accomplished the 1-2-3-4 finish fantasy in the Juha Kankkunen-winning 1993 Safari Rally.
The Japanese manufacturer replicated the outcomes the previous year with the help of Takamoto, Evans, Ogier, and Rovanpera, the winner of the previous year’s Safari Rally.
Kankkunen, a four-time world champion, was present at Naivasha to witness Toyota make history in a similar manner.
“I was quite certain about that. I was aware that the top three podium spots were up for grabs,” Kankkunen told Standard Sports.
“Winning the championship is such a great feeling, it’s the best response a brand has ever received from their dedicated drivers. It only indicates how dependable the automobiles, teams, and staff are because it requires coordination between them all.” Kankkunen added.
After winning the first Kasarani Super Special Stage on Thursday, former world champion Ott Tanak of the M-Sport Ford Puma was the first to assume control of the leaderboard in the Safari Rally. However, the tables were turned the following day when Ogier took charge of the rankings to win the remaining 18 stages and earn his final victory.
After placing 12th in 4:11:38.6, Kenyan Carl Tundo was the best-placed local driver.
The rally was not without its challenges as Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi were forced to retire after their vehicles were severely damaged by the challenging Sleeping Warrior and fesh-filled Kedong stages.
Due to severe penalties, the Hyundai team’s comeback to the championship saw Neuville finish in a distant eighth place in 3:55:29.5 and Lappi (4:12:57.4) complete the race 13th, just below Tundo.
George Vassilakis of Greece (driving a Ford Fiesta) was disqualified from the championship on Saturday after colliding with a vehicle on the Naivasha-Nakuru Highway as he was returning to the service park. He was taken to the hospital and is doing well.
