Spectators at the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally will enjoy a first-time experience of watching the event’s shakedown.
Safari Rally, which is the third round of the 2026 WRC, has been scheduled for March 12-15 in Naivasha, some 90km northwest of the capital Nairobi.
Since the event’s return to the WRC calendar in 2021, spectators have not been permitted to watch the shakedown.
Speaking on Thursday during the launch of the 2026 programme, Safari Rally Kenya Chief Executive Officer, Charles Gacheru, also outlined the reasons why next year’s competition will not start in Nairobi as has been the norm since its return to the WRC.
“The FIA, WRC sporting regulations (for 2026) Article 10.2 says the rally must start on Thursday and end on Sunday with a power stage,” Gacheru explained. “So we've been forced to run the rally exclusively in Naivasha. So, Tuesday and Wednesday (March 10-11), the rally cars will be in Naivasha, and they will go through all the routes. It's a mandatory recce,” he added.
According to the CEO, the cars will be subjected to administrative checks and scrutineering at the Service Park, after which the shakedown will take place on Thursday (March 19) morning.
“It's (shakedown location) now in Nawisa, which is owned by the Wildlife Research and Training Institute, just across the Service Park,” Gacheru disclosed.
He added: “That's actually a very big improvement for us because it means the cars - between the shakedown runs - they do about three runs, come back to Service Park, which means they don't need a remote service park. The CEO noted organisers are expecting huge crowds to take advantage of the opening of the shakedown to spectators.
“We will have a shakedown this year that will be very, very much public. And you've got to remember the shakedown is actually televised live globally. We expect the residents of Naivasha to really enjoy themselves for the first time because they don't need a 4x4 to go to the shakedown,” he enthused.
Gacheru admitted the 2026 WRC Safari Rally will be impacted by moving the Ceremonial Start and opening the Special Spectator Stage from the Kenyan capital.
“I would like to tell rally fans in Nairobi, please make your way down to Naivasha, and watch the rally from there. The impact is huge. Not being in Nairobi is significant. Not flagging off all the way at KICC or outside City Hall is a big change, and it's not something we take lightly. But if we were to try and force it into the itinerary, we would then fall foul of the FIA WRC sporting regulations for 2026,” he explained.
Other factors organisers considered in moving the rally from Nairobi was the inability to run a 300km event in the four days allowed, as well as meeting the requirements for working hours of the crew.
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally will be the sixth edition since Kenya was admitted back to host Africa’s round of the global championship in 2021.
