South African Safari Rally kicks off with challenging prologue near Sun City
The new South African Safari Rally roared to life today with a short but demanding 9km prologue near Sun City, setting the stage for the Monster Energy Honda HRC riders.
The course, composed of 60% gravel and 40% black turf, a hallmark of South African terrain, proved anything but easy. Despite the brief distance, the prologue played a crucial role in determining the starting order for tomorrow’s first stage and the mixed surface kept riders on their toes.
After clinching every prologue victory in the rallies he competed in last year, all eyes were on Tosha Schareina to see if he could take his second prologue win of 2025. With the timed action completed in just over seven minutes, a few mistakes cost the Spaniard the win by just four seconds, with Daniel Sanders claiming the top spot.
Ricky Brabec, more accustomed to desert racing, likened the course to a grass track, far from his preferred conditions and trailed the leader by 14 seconds. Frenchman Adrien Van Beveren followed closely, just one second behind Brabec, as he navigated the tight, freshly cut grass sections. Meanwhile, Skyler Howes finished eighth overall, nearly 30 seconds off the lead, after some early confusion caused by tractor markings and a constant battle with the slippery terrain.
Looking ahead to stage one, the riders will tackle a demanding 557km route aboard their Honda CRF450 RALLY machines, with 262km counting as the timed special stage. As they leave Sun City behind and head into dense woodland, they’ll face a fresh set of challenges, navigating through trees, thick shrubs and tall grasses that promise to test both skill and focus.
