Pajari leads Toyota Gazoo in road safety awareness ahead of Safari Rally

Toyota GAZOO Racing has strengthened its commitment to road safety in Kenya by launching the second year of its #RoadSafety4All campaign in collaboration with CFAO Mobility Kenya.

Building on efforts initiated in 2024, this initiative aims to raise awareness and promote safer journeys for all road users, particularly schoolchildren.

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As part of the campaign, Toyota and CFAO have donated 10,000 reflective wristbands to schools across the country, helping children remain visible when navigating busy roads.

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For 2025, the campaign expands with a road safety mural competition, encouraging creativity while reinforcing critical safety messages. The initiative was launched in Nairobi with support from Juha Kankkunen, Toyota GAZOO Racing's Deputy Team Principal and a three-time Safari Rally winner, alongside WRC driver Sami Pajari.

The duo engaged with local children at the Nairobi Children’s Traffic Safety Park, helping them paint a mural on canvas.

On Monday 17 March, Kankkunen and CFAO Mobility Managing Director, Arvinder Reel, visited Jogoo Road Primary School, where they joined pupils in painting a large road safety mural on the school’s exterior wall, further reinforcing their commitment to safer roads.

Meanwhile, the manufacturer holds a 28-point advantage at the top of the standings after two strong opening rounds but knows that Africa’s notoriously unpredictable terrain and weather could shake things up in an instant.

“The Safari is a unique rally with a special set of conditions to face,” FIA WRC leader Elfyn Evans said. “It is not easy even if it is dry, but when you add the likelihood of rain and standing water, it can be a huge challenge just to get to the end.”

Adding another layer of intrigue, this year’s Safari marks the first time WRC crews will compete on gravel with Hankook’s new tyre.

“The focus moves to gravel, where the learning starts again with another new tyre,” Evans explained. “While not representative of the roads in Kenya, our test last week was good familiarization with this year’s specification of the car on gravel and with the tyres.”

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Despite the unpredictable nature of the Safari, the Welshman heads into the weekend full of confidence after a strong start to the season.

“It’s been a good start to the year for us and we can be happy with how well the first two events have gone,” he reflected.

Evans has yet to taste victory at the Safari but has come close before—securing podium finishes in 2021 and 2023.

“This has been an amazing rally for the team over recent years,” he said. “And while it's perhaps not been my strongest event personally, we want to aim as high as possible and challenge for the win if it’s possible.”