Sami Pajari Marko Salminen racing on a Toyota Yaris race through the Nawisa stage during Shakedown at the WRC Safari Rally Kenya on March 12, 2026.
Toyota Gazoo Racing is eyeing a sixth straight Safari Rally victory, while Hyundai and Ford are eager to add their first wins in Kenya in the new WRC Safari Rally era as the 2026 edition begins today in Naivasha.
In the Rally2 category, the grid will feature six Kenyan teams matched against six European specialists.
Aside from Nikil Sachania – who will contest Rally3 behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta – the rest of Kenya’s regular entrants form the backbone of the Safari field.
They have been allowed to run older Subaru and Mitsubishi cars so they can score points toward the Kenya National Rally Championship (KNRC).
This is significant because the rally represents the first home‑based championship round since last year’s Safari, after the 45‑year‑old KNRC folded.
Toyota starts as the odds‑on favourite, although any late‑season rain could upset the balance and turn this year’s Safari even more unpredictable.
A mechanic works on the Toyota GR Yaris car of Diego Dominguez in the WRC Safari Rally Service Park, Naivasha on March 10, 2026.
After triumphs on the icy roads of Monte‑Carlo and the snow‑covered stages of Sweden, a win in Kenya would cement Toyota’s claim to all‑terrain supremacy and echo the 1984 sweep of the first three rounds (Monte‑Carlo, Sweden and Kenya).
Toyota will be led by Welshman Elfyn Evans, who claimed his first Safari victory last year, and returns to Africa as the championship leader following a win in Sweden, sitting 13 points ahead of teammate Oliver Solberg of Sweden, the Monte‑Carlo champion.
Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta, who finished runner‑up in Sweden and already boasts three Safari podiums, is also in the mix, as is nine‑time world champion Sébastien Ogier of France, back for his first Safari since 2023 after two previous victories.
Finland’s Sami Pajari, entered under the TGR‑WRT2 banner, comes off a second‑place finish in Sweden and hopes to improve on his fourth‑place debut in Kenya a year earlier.
In the WRC‑2 class, British driver Gus Greensmith will make his Toyota debut in a privately entered GR Yaris Rally2. Paraguayan entrants Diego Domínguez and Andrea Lafarja will also run GR Yaris Rally2s.
Representing the Kenyan contingent are six drivers – Karan Patel, Samman Vohra, Aakif Virani, Issa Amwari, Jasmeet Chana, Hamza Anwar and Ismael Azeli – who will pilot Skoda Fabia R5s and Ford Fiesta Rally2 cars, respectively.
Other international challengers include Poland’s Daniel Chwist, Estonia’s Robert Virves, Sweden’s Andreas Mikkelsen, Paraguay’s Diego Domínguez Jr and France’s Fabrizio Zaldivar, all competing in identical Skoda Fabia Rally 2 machines.
Rally driver Nikhil Sachania looks service crew get his Ford Fiesta ready for competition at his garage in Imara Daima, Nairobi on February 25, 2026.
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRC has already collected three podiums at the Sub‑Saharan race, including a double podium finish last season. Sporting Director Andrew Wheatley is optimistic about their prospects this year.
“Kenya is a totally different animal from the high‑speed, flat‑out stages we see in Sweden. It rewards patience and respect. This will be our first outing with the i20 N Rally1 Evo, but we know it can produce solid results – we proved that in Greece and Saudi Arabia last year. The weather can change the stages dramatically, and it’s almost impossible to predict when rain will hit a particular sector,” said Wheatley.
They will rely on Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux and Finland’s Esapekka Lappi.
Fourmaux described the rally thus: “The Safari Rally is a unique chapter on our calendar. From the pace notes to the ever‑shifting weather, everything feels different. The stages can swing from dry, hard‑packed ground to deep mud and puddles, which is hard on both car and crew.”
Lappi explained the preparation: “We have focused on reliability for Kenya, improving the demisting system to keep visibility up in wet conditions. Pure speed isn’t as crucial here, so we’re not at a big disadvantage.”
M‑Sport Ford boss Richard Millener shared a positive outlook: “I’m keen to see how it unfolds. Josh brings valuable experience from last year, and both Jon Armstrong and Jürgen Jürgenson will remember their first Kenyan runs for a long time. The key is a clean, mistake‑free drive while staying aggressive enough to stay in contention.”
“The Safari is one of the toughest rounds. The trick is to be smart, protect the car and deliver a consistent performance. If we manage that, a strong result is within reach.”
Armstrong reflected on the challenge: “Kenya will be a new kind of test for Shane and me. It’s our first time there, so there’s a lot to learn. Our preparation and research show it won’t be easy, but we’ll give it everything and aim to keep it as clean as possible.”
Jürgenson added his perspective: “Kenya presents a completely different set of demands compared with the rallies I’ve done before. Perhaps my Junior WRC experience in Greece is the closest comparison, but this is an event where long‑term thinking matters – getting through without major issues to secure a good final position.”
The four-day rally will be raced over 18 stages.
The official start will be in Naivasha, unlike previous editions, when the ceremony was held at Kenyatta International Convention Centre in Nairobi.
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