Daniel Sanders Claims Dominant Victory at South Africa Safari Rally for Third Straight Win; Red Bull KTM Seals One-Two Finish
Daniel Sanders of the Red Bull KTM Factory Racing team delivered a commanding victory at the third round of the 2025 FIM World Rally-Raid Championship (W2RC), the South Africa Safari Rally. Following wins at the Dakar Rally and the Abu Dhabi Desert Challenge, this marks Sanders’ third consecutive triumph of the season, further solidifying his position at the top of the championship standings.
The Australian rider took three stage wins during the rally and secured second place on the final day. His overall time saw him finish 8 minutes and 55 seconds ahead of second place, sealing a comprehensive victory. This result also earned Sanders a new record for the most stage wins in W2RC history, with 19 in total. With this momentum, he now leads the championship by 35 points ahead of the fourth round in Portugal this September, leaving his rivals trailing in the title race.
Daniel Sanders:
“Winning the South Africa Safari Rally and making it three wins in a row this season is just incredible. It’s been the perfect start and I couldn’t ask for more. Each day brought different terrain and navigation challenges—some wild moments—but I really enjoyed my first time in South Africa. I’m so happy to put KTM back on top again and I’m looking forward to celebrating with the team. We’ve all worked so hard over the past year, and to see it pay off like this is amazing. Riding this bike is so much fun. The goal, of course, is the championship, and I’ll be going all in for Portugal and Morocco.”
Teammate Luciano Benavides also delivered a strong performance to finish second overall, securing his best result of the season. The Argentine rider consistently ran near the front throughout the event and placed fourth on the final stage to clinch a well-earned podium. His performance boosted him from fifth to a tie for second in the championship standings alongside Sanders, giving him a strong shot at a comeback title run.
Luciano Benavides:
“It’s amazing to finish second and make it a one-two for KTM! I knew I could hold onto second today, so I focused on clean navigation to avoid any mistakes. I’m really happy to be back on the podium, and this race gave me a lot of confidence—I’ll be aiming for the win next time. Can’t wait for Portugal and Morocco!”
In the Rally2 class, Red Bull KTM’s Edgar Canet made a stunning return from a major injury by taking a dominant class win. Canet won stages 2, 3, and 4, and despite encountering trouble on the final day, kept his cool to defend his lead, winning by more than 15 minutes over his nearest rival. He also finished an impressive 7th overall.
Edgar Canet:
“I’m so happy to finish the rally with a win in Rally2! It’s been a full week on the bike and I finally crossed that finish line. I really feel myself improving with every race, and finishing seventh overall here in South Africa is something I’m really proud of. This result is great for the team too, and I’m motivated to keep pushing. I’m looking forward to Portugal!”
Andreas Hölzl, Rally Team Manager:
“It was a fantastic week for Chucky [Sanders] and the whole team. Once again, he showed unbelievable performance and proved he can win in any conditions. Luciano’s been working extremely hard these past months, and we’re thrilled to see it pay off. We're in a strong position heading into Portugal. Edgar is steadily progressing with every race—this time not only winning Rally2 but proving he can battle with the top guys. It was a perfect week.”
South Africa Safari Rally – Overall Results
| Position | Rider | Nationality | Team | Time (Gap) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Daniel Sanders | AUS | KTM | 13:27:44 |
| 2 | Luciano Benavides | ARG | KTM | +8:55 |
| 3 | Ricky Brabec | USA | Honda | +10:00 |
| 4 | Adrien Van Beveren | FRA | Honda | +15:47 |
| 5 | Skyler Howes | USA | Honda | +35:48 |
| 7 | Edgar Canet | ESP | KTM | +49:16 |
W2RC 2025 Standings
RallyGP:
- Daniel Sanders (KTM) – 88 points
- Luciano Benavides (KTM) – 53 points
- Ricky Brabec (Honda) – 53 points
- Adrien Van Beveren (Honda) – 48 points
- Tosha Schareina (Honda) – 46 points
Rally2:
- Tobias Ebster (Hero) – 66 points
- Edgar Canet (KTM) – 63 points
- Michael Doherty (Honda) – 53 points
- Konrad Dąbrowski (KTM) – 51 points
- Rúi Barbosa (KTM) – 33 points
(Photo courtesy of KTM)