KEY EVENT STATS
Surface: Gravel
Base: Naivasha
Stages: 20
Competitive Distance: 350.52 km
Total Distance: 1,217.64 km
WEEKEND FOCUS
After positive performances on Rally Sweden, the M-Sport crews now switch to the drastically different setting on Safari Rally Kenya, where both Armstrong and Jürgenson make their debuts next week.
As the ultimate test of survival in the FIA World Rally Championship, crews focus on managing the brutally rough conditions across Kenya’s scorching savannahs. Avoiding punctures and mechanical issues becomes the main challenge in Kenya, as the unpredictable weather and soft, powdery quick sand-like fesh-fesh also threatens to put crews in sticky situations.
The iconic ‘snorkel’ air-intake system will make its return, along with exaggerated ride-heights and a reinforced front grille to make both the Puma Rally1 cars and the Fiesta Rally2 ready for the challenge ahead.
Richard Millener, M-Sport Ford World Rally Team Principal, said: “Rally Kenya has come around quickly once again and I’m looking forward to seeing how things play out there. Josh has some great experience from last year that he can utilise, and Jon and Romet will certainly remember their first time in Kenya for many years to come! Although the key here is to take a tidy, mistake-free drive, you still have to be on the pace and pushing from the offset. But, clever drivers are nearly always rewarded in Kenya, so as long as we respect the environment I think we can come away with a solid result.”
CREW LINE-UP
FORD PUMA RALLY1
#55 / Josh McErlean & Eoin Treacy
Rally Sweden result: 9th overall
Safari Rally Kenya 2025 result: 10th overall
Current championship position: 14th WRC
Josh McErlean said: “Safari Rally is one of the toughest events of the year. The focus is on being smart, looking after the car and putting together a consistent performance. If we do that, we can come away with a really positive result.”
#95 / Jon Armstrong & Shane Byrne
Rally Sweden result: 8th overall
Armstrong will be making his Safari Rally Kenya debut
Current championship position: 12th WRC
Jon Armstrong said: “Kenya will be a unique challenge for me and Shane, as it’s our first time there it will be a lot to discover. As we work through our preparations and research, I can tell it’s not going to be easy but we will give it our best shot and focus on keeping it as clean as we can! We recently spent time in the workshop preparing with the team and working on the car which was very valuable going into such a rough event.”
FORD FIESTA RALLY2
#27 / Romet Jürgenson & Siim Oja
Rally Sweden result: 14th in WRC2
Jürgenson will be making his Safari Rally Kenya debut
Current championship position: 18th WRC
Romet Jürgenson said “Kenya will be a very different challenge compared to the rallies I’ve done in the past. Maybe Greece in my Junior WRC years compares a little, but it's definitely an event where we have to think about the long game and getting through without major issues to secure a good position in the end. That will be our aim, to get the experience of this unique and great event and then just hope for the best result we can get.”
