In a thrilling finale to the first-ever South African Safari Rally, local heroes Henk Lategan and Brett Cummings secured a historic victory for Toyota Gazoo Racing, holding off rally legend Sébastien Loeb in a nail-biting finish.
After nearly 1,100 kilometers of grueling rally raid action across the rugged bushveld and savannah of South Africa’s Northwest Province, the decisive moment came in the final stage. Lategan and Cummings, piloting their Toyota Hilux, entered Stage Five with a slim 39-second lead over Loeb and his Belgian co-driver Fabian Lurquin. Despite finishing third in the day’s stage, the South African duo did enough to claim the overall win—marking their first-ever victory in the World Rally Raid Championship (W2RC).
The triumph was made even sweeter by the passionate home crowd, who cheered on their compatriots in what has been hailed as a landmark moment for South African motorsport.
A Proud Moment for South Africa
Rally legend Giniel de Villiers—best known for his 2009 Dakar Rally win—shared his pride in South Africa hosting its first W2RC event.
“It made me feel very proud,” De Villiers said. “It’s the first time South Africa has ever hosted a round of the world championship, and the organizers did an amazing job. Everyone who came out enjoyed it and said they want to return.”
De Villiers, who also competed in the event, praised Lategan’s composure under pressure. “Henk has matured incredibly over the last few years. He had a ding-dong battle with Sébastien Loeb, a nine-time world rally champion, and held him off. He’s a great talent, and we’ll see his name on the podium many more times.”
Boost for South African Motorsport
The event’s success is expected to have a lasting impact on motorsport in the country. “It’s massive for off-road racing and all forms of motorsport,” De Villiers emphasized. “It shows the world that South Africa can host world-class events successfully.”
He also highlighted the growing pipeline of young talent in the country, noting that many of the Dakar Rally’s top vehicles are now built in South Africa. “There’s a burst of new drivers coming through, and the future looks bright.”
What’s Next?
For De Villiers, the focus now shifts to the South African Rally Raid Championship in late June, with future plans still undecided. Meanwhile, Lategan and Cummings’ victory has set a new benchmark for South African rallying, with hopes high that the Safari Rally will return next year.
As the dust settles on this historic event, one thing is clear: South Africa has firmly staked its claim on the global rally raid map.
