2026 Safari Rally

2026 Safari Rally
Safari Rally Kenya 2026
Round 3 of 14 in the 2026 World Rally Championship
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The rally is featured with rocky and rutted tracks and unpredictable weather.
Host country Kenya
Rally baseNaivasha, Nakuru County
Dates run12 – 15 March 2026
Start locationKasarani, Nairobi
Finish locationHell's Gate National Park, Naivasha
Stages20 (350.52 km; 217.80 miles)[1]
Stage surfaceGravel
Transport distance877.34 km (545.15 miles)
Overall distance1,227.86 km (762.96 miles)
Statistics
Crews registered46
Crews40 at start, 29 at finish
Overall results
Overall winnerJapan Takamoto Katsuta
Republic of Ireland Aaron Johnston
Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
3:16:05.6
Sunday
Accumulated leader		Sweden Oliver Solberg
United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson
Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
33:28.9
Power Stage winnerSweden Oliver Solberg
United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson
Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
5:32.2
Support category results
WRC-2 winnerEstonia Robert Virves
Estonia Jakko Viilo
Germany Toksport WRT
3:27:44.3
WRC-3 winnerGreece Georgios Vasilakis
Republic of Ireland Allan Harryman
4:25:07.7

The 2026 Safari Rally (also known as the Safari Rally Kenya 2026) was a motor racing event for rally cars held over four days from 12 to 15 March 2026.[2] It marked the seventy-fourth running of the Safari Rally, and was the third round of the 2026 World Rally Championship, 2026 WRC2 Championship and 2026 WRC3 Championship. The 2026 event was based in Naivasha in the Nakuru County, and was consisted of twenty special stages, covering a total competitive distance of 350.52 km (217.80 mi).

Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin were the defending rally winners, and Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, were the defending manufacturer's winners.[3] Gus Greensmith and Jonas Andersson were the defending rally winners in the WRC2 championship.[4] Nikhil Sachania and Deep Patel were the defending rally winners in the WRC3 championship.

Takamoto Katsuta and Aaron Johnston took their maiden victory, and Toyota successfully defended their title.[5] Robert Virves and Jakko Viilo were the winners in the WRC2 category.[6] Georgios Vasilakis and Allan Harryman were the winners in the WRC3 category.[7]

Background

Entry list

The following crews entered into the rally. The event was open to crews competing in the World Rally Championship, its support categories, the WRC2 Championship, the WRC3 Championship and privateer entries that were not registered to score points in any championship. Ten crews entered under Rally1 regulations, as were fifteen Rally2 crews in the WRC2 Championship and four Rally3 crews in the WRC3 Championship.[8]

Rally1 entries competing in the World Rally Championship
No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Championship eligibility Tyre
1 France Sébastien Ogier France Vincent Landais Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
4 Finland Esapekka Lappi Finland Enni Mälkönen South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
5 Finland Sami Pajari Finland Marko Salminen Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer, Team H
11 Belgium Thierry Neuville Belgium Martijn Wydaeghe South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
16 France Adrien Fourmaux France Alexandre Coria South Korea Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
18 Japan Takamoto Katsuta Republic of Ireland Aaron Johnston Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Driver, Co-driver H
33 United Kingdom Elfyn Evans United Kingdom Scott Martin Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
55 Republic of Ireland Josh McErlean Republic of Ireland Eoin Treacy United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
95 Republic of Ireland Jon Armstrong Republic of Ireland Shane Byrne United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
99 Sweden Oliver Solberg United Kingdom Elliott Edmondson Japan Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 Driver, Co-driver, Manufacturer H
Rally2 entries competing in the WRC2 Championship
No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Championship eligibility Tyre
20 United Kingdom Gus Greensmith Sweden Jonas Andersson United Kingdom Gus Greensmith Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Driver, Co-driver H
21 Estonia Robert Virves Estonia Jakko Viilo Germany Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver, Team H
22 Norway Andreas Mikkelsen Norway Jørn Listerud Germany Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver, Team H
23 Paraguay Fabrizio Zaldivar Italy Marcelo Der Ohannesian Paraguay Fabrizio Zaldivar Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
24 Estonia Romet Jürgenson Estonia Siim Oja United Kingdom M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
25 Paraguay Diego Domínguez Jr. Spain Rogelio Peñate Paraguay Diego Domínguez Jr. Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
26 Poland Daniel Chwist Poland Kamil Heller Poland Daniel Chwist Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
27 Kenya Karan Patel Kenya Tauseef Khan Kenya Karan Patel Škoda Fabia R5 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
28 Kenya Carl Tundo Kenya Tim Jessop Kenya Carl Tundo Ford Fiesta R5 Challenger/Master Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
29 Kenya Samman Singh Vohra United Kingdom Drew Sturrock Kenya Samman Singh Vohra Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
30 Kenya Jeremiah Wahome Kenya Victor Okundi Kenya Jeremiah Wahome Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
31 Paraguay Andrea Lafarja Paraguay Germán Maune Paraguay Andrea Lafarja Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
32 Kenya Issa Amwari Kenya Dennis Mwenda Kenya Issa Amwari Škoda Fabia R5 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
34 Kenya Aakif Virani Kenya Zahir Shah Kenya Aakif Virani Škoda Fabia R5 Challenger/Masters Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
40 Kenya Hamza Anwar Kenya Chaudry Mudasar Kenya Hamza Anwar Ford Fiesta R5 Challenger Driver, Challenger Co-driver H
Rally3 entries competing in the WRC3 Championship
No. Driver Co-Driver Entrant Car Class/Championship eligibility Tyre
36 Bolivia Nataniel Bruun Spain Sergio Fernández Guerra Bolivia Nataniel Bruun Ford Fiesta Rally3 WRC3 H
37 Greece Georgios Vasilakis Republic of Ireland Allan Harryman Greece Georgios Vasilakis Ford Fiesta Rally3 WRC3, Masters Driver, Masters Co-Driver H
38 India Naveen Puligilla India Musa Sherif India Naveen Puligilla Ford Fiesta Rally3 WRC3 H
39 Kenya Nikhil Sachania Kenya Deep Patel Kenya Nikhil Sachania Ford Fiesta Rally3 WRC3 H

Itinerary

All dates and times are EAT (UTC+3).

Date No. Time span Stage name Distance
12 March — After 8:01 Nawisa [Shakedown] 6.31 km
After 15:00 Opening ceremony, WRTI Naivasha N/a
SS1 After 16:05 Camp Moran 1 24.35 km
SS2 After 17:23 Mzabibu 1 8.86 km
18:23 – 19:08 Service A, WRTI Naivasha N/a
13 March SS3 After 8:03 Camp Moran 2 24.35 km
SS4 After 9:06 Loldia 1 25.04 km
SS5 After 10:24 Kengen Geothermal 1 13.16 km
SS6 After 11:17 Kedong 1 13.79 km
11:57 – 12:57 Regroup, WRTI Naivasha N/a
12:57 – 13:27 Service B, WRTI Naivasha N/a
SS7 After 14:00 Kedong 1 13.79 km
SS8 After 14:58 Kengen Geothermal 1 13.16 km
SS9 After 15:56 Loldia 1 25.04 km
SS10 After 16:59 Mzabibu 2 8.86 km
17:59 – 18:44 Flexi service C, WRTI Naivasha N/a
14 March SS11 After 8:35 Soysambu 1 24.94 km
SS12 After 9:35 Elmenteita 1 18.01 km
SS13 After 10:33 Sleeping Warrior 1 18.01 km
12:30 – 13:15 Regroup, WRTI Naivasha N/a
13:15 – 13:45 Service D, WRTI Naivasha N/a
SS14 After 15:05 Soysambu 2 24.94 km
SS15 After 16:05 Elmenteita 2 18.01 km
SS16 After 17:03 Sleeping Warrior 2 18.01 km
19:28 – 20:13 Flexi service E, WRTI Naivasha N/a
15 March SS17 After 8:09 Oserengoni 1 18.22 km
SS18 After 9:35 Hell's Gate 1 10.48 km
SS19 After 10:38 Oserengoni 2 18.22 km
11:47 – 12:50 Regroup, WRTI Naivasha N/a
SS20 After 13:15 Hell's Gate 2 [Power Stage] 10.53 km
After 14:15 Podium ceremony, WSTI Naivasha N/a
After 15:50 Finish, WSTI Naivasha N/a
Source:[1]

Report

WRC Rally1

Classification

Position No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Points
Event Class Event Sunday Stage Total
1 1 18 Takamoto Katsuta Aaron Johnston Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3:16:05.6 0.0 25 0 0 25
2 2 16 Adrien Fourmaux Alexandre Coria Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 3:16:33.0 +27.4 17 1 1 19
3 3 5 Sami Pajari Marko Salminen Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2 Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3:20:31.7 +4:26.1 15 0 0 15
4 4 4 Esapekka Lappi Enni Mälkönen Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 3:22:12.9 +6:07.3 12 0 0 12
10 5 99 Oliver Solberg Elliott Edmondson Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3:32:50.1 +16:44.5 1 5 5 11
11 6 1 Sébastien Ogier Vincent Landais Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3:33:36.3 +17:30.7 0 4 4 8
12 7 11 Thierry Neuville Martijn Wydaeghe Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT Hyundai i20 N Rally1 3:35:58.0 +19:52.4 0 2 2 4
13 8 33 Elfyn Evans Scott Martin Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 3:42:26.5 +26:20.9 0 3 3 6
15 9 95 Jon Armstrong Shane Byrne M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 4:04:06.7 +48:01.1 0 0 0 0
Retired SS17 55 Josh McErlean Eoin Treacy M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Puma Rally1 Engine 0 0 0 0
Source:[9]

Special stages

Stage Winners Car Time Class leaders
SD Neuville / Wydaeghe Hyundai i20 N Rally1 4:33.1 N/a
SS1 Solberg / Edmondson Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 22:56.2 Solberg / Edmondson
SS2 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 7:18.2
SS3 Stage cancelled
SS4 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 14:18.8 Solberg / Edmondson
SS5 Pajari / Salminen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 6:53.3
SS6 Pajari / Salminen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 6:22.6
SS7 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 6:24.4
SS8 Pajari / Salminen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 6:50.2
SS9 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 14:14.1
SS10 Pajari / Salminen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 7:07.8
SS11 Solberg / Edmondson Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 15:18.9
SS12 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 11:16.3
SS13 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 11:32.3
SS14 Fourmaux / Coria Hyundai i20 N Rally1 15:12.8 Katsuta / Johnston
SS15 Pajari / Salminen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 10:45.3
SS16 Stage cancelled
SS17 Ogier / Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 11:18.9 Katsuta / Johnston
SS18 Evans / Martin Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 5:32.4
SS19 Solberg / Edmondson Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 10:58.1
SS20 Solberg / Edmondson Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 5:32.2
Source:[10]

Championship standings

WRC2 Rally2

Classification

Position No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Points
Event Class Class Event
5 1 21 Robert Virves Jakko Viilo Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 3:27:44.3 0.0 25 10
6 2 20 Gus Greensmith Jonas Andersson Gus Greensmith Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 3:28:14.6 +30.3 17 8
7 3 23 Fabrizio Zaldivar Marcelo Der Ohannesian Fabrizio Zaldivar Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 3:28:25.6 +41.3 15 6
8 4 22 Andreas Mikkelsen Jørn Listerud Toksport WRT Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 3:28:36.3 +52.0 12 4
9 5 25 Diego Domínguez Jr. Rogelio Peñate Diego Domínguez Jr. Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 3:29:34.0 +1:49.7 10 2
14 6 26 Daniel Chwist Kamil Heller Daniel Chwist Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 4:01:42.3 +33:58.0 8 0
17 7 27 Karan Patel Tauseef Khan Karan Patel Škoda Fabia R5 4:26:54.7 +59:10.4 6 0
18 8 34 Aakif Virani Zahir Shah Aakif Virani Škoda Fabia R5 4:43:06.7 +1:15:22.4 4 0
19 9 29 Samman Singh Vohra Drew Sturrock Samman Singh Vohra Škoda Fabia Rally2 evo 4:46:47.1 +1:19:02.8 2 0
20 10 31 Andrea Lafarja Germán Maune Andrea Lafarja Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 5:04:23.9 +1:36:39.6 1 0
Retired SS19 24 Romet Jürgenson Siim Oja M-Sport Ford WRT Ford Fiesta Rally2 Technical 0 0
Retired SS17 40 Hamza Anwar Chaudry Mudasar Hamza Anwar Ford Fiesta R5 Mechanical 0 0
Source:[11]

Special stages

Championship standings

WRC3 Rally3

Classification

Position No. Driver Co-driver Entrant Car Time Difference Points
Event Class
16 1 37 Georgios Vasilakis Allan Harryman Georgios Vasilakis Ford Fiesta Rally3 4:25:07.7 0.0 25
23 2 39 Nikhil Sachania Deep Patel Nikhil Sachania Ford Fiesta Rally3 5:15:33.4 +50:25.7 17
25 3 38 Naveen Puligilla Musa Sherif Naveen Puligilla Ford Fiesta Rally3 5:22:17.9 +57:10.2 15
26 4 36 Nataniel Bruun Sergio Fernández Guerra Nataniel Bruun Ford Fiesta Rally3 5:25:37.4 +1:00:29.7 12
Source:[14]

Special stages

Stage Winners Car Time Class leaders
SD Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 5:24.0 N/a
SS1 Puligilla / Sherif Ford Fiesta Rally3 34:40.4 Puligilla / Sherif
SS2 Vasilakis / Harryman Ford Fiesta Rally3 10:14.5 Vasilakis / Harryman
SS3 Stage cancelled
SS4 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 17:36.4 Vasilakis / Harryman
SS5 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 8:52.8
SS6 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 8:21.0
SS7 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 8:16.9
SS8 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 8:33.6
SS9 Vasilakis / Harryman Ford Fiesta Rally3 18:11.9
SS10 Vasilakis / Harryman Ford Fiesta Rally3 8:36.4
SS11 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 19:29.1
SS12 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 14:28.8
SS13 Stage cancelled
SS14 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 18:58.8 Vasilakis / Harryman
SS15 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 14:23.8
SS16 Stage cancelled
SS17 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 14:02.8 Vasilakis / Harryman
SS18 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 7:02.8
SS19 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 14:44.2
SS20 Bruun / Guerra Ford Fiesta Rally3 7:04.4
Source:[15]

Championship standings

References

  1. 1 2 "Itinerary Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 25 December 2025.
  2. ↑ "2026 FIA World Rally Championship calendar revealed". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 31 July 2025. Retrieved 31 July 2025.
  3. ↑ "Evans powers to Safari Rally Kenya victory". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  4. ↑ "WRC2 gold for Greensmith as Solans rolls on Safari Rally's final day". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 23 March 2025. Retrieved 23 March 2025.
  5. ↑ "Katsuta makes history with maiden WRC victory at Safari Rally Kenya". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  6. ↑ "Virves claims WRC2 victory on Safari Rally Kenya debut". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  7. ↑ "Vasilakis secures maiden WRC3 victory in Kenya". wrc.com. WRC Promoter GmbH. 15 March 2026. Retrieved 15 March 2026.
  8. ↑ "Entry list Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  9. ↑ "Final results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  10. ↑ "Stage results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  11. ↑ "Final results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  12. ↑ "Stage results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Stage results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
  14. ↑ "Final results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 16 March 2026.
  15. ↑ "Stage results Safari Rally Kenya 2026". eWRC-results.com. Retrieved 14 March 2026.
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