This archive report was first published on 29 June 2021.
On June 27, 2021, President Uhuru Kenyatta awarded the 2020 World Rally Championship Safari Rally winner Sebastian Ogier and his navigator Julien Ingrassia in Naivasha, Kenya. The seven-time world rally champion had overcome a suspension trouble on Friday to secure victory on the final day.
Sebastian Ogier's victory was sealed when event leader Thierry Neuville's hopes of winning ended after breaking his Hyundai i20 suspension in Sunday's morning stage. Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta took the rally lead, but Ogier's dominance gradually sliced through, claiming two stage wins on Sunday.
With a 21.8-second lead, Ogier became the first Safari Rally winner since the event's return to the World Rally Championship in 2002. 'It's been an amazing experience to be here. The support we got from the local people was incredible. It might be a bit shorter than the old days, but the challenge is still very tough,' Ogier said.
Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta finished second overall, securing his maiden world rally championship podium. Hyundai's Ott Tanak completed the podium places in third, despite experiencing a series of mishaps throughout the event.
