In the heart of Naivasha this 12th to 15th March 2026, the legendary Safari Rally Kenya will once again transform the wild, untamed terrain of East Africa into a high‑stakes proving ground for the world’s best rally drivers. This isn’t just another stop on the WRC calendar — it’s a collision of legacy, grit, culture and raw horsepower where heroes are forged in dust and flame, and where every crest, washboard and water crossing has a story to tell. From the rolling hills to the stony river beds, the Safari Rally is as much about survival as it is speed — a brutal, beautiful ballet of man and machine that has captivated fans for generations.
Leading the charge is Toyota Gazoo Racing, and oh boy, do they mean business. They’ve brought five GR Yaris Rally1 machines — think rally royalty in road‑eating armour — with none other than nine‑time world champ Sébastien Ogier dusting off the cobwebs to make a majestic return. Ogier isn’t just here to finish; he’s here to remind everyone why his name is etched in rallying’s hall of legends. Joining him in the Toyota brigade are full‑season gladiators Elfyn Evans and Oliver Solberg, backed up by Japan’s own grit‑personified Takamoto Katsuta and the young firecracker Sami Pajari, with Pajari even running under a special WRT2 entry to shake up the competition from a different angle.
Across the scrutineering bay, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT stands ready with their warhorses — the icy‑precise i20 N Rally1 machines — driven by seasoned scorers Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux, plus part‑timer Esapekka Lappi bringing that cool Finnish calm to this wild Kenyan arena. There’s something magnetic about Neuville here — like a seasoned explorer returning to a land that’s cheated him before, ready to conquer what once conquered him.
Meanwhile, the plucky M‑Sport Ford outfit isn’t just making up the numbers: two bolshy Puma Rally1 cars, piloted by Joshua McErlean and Jon Armstrong, are itching to upset the balance. They may be the underdogs in raw firepower, but in a rally where endurance counts as much as speed, never count out the crew with guts bigger than horsepower.
But let’s zoom in on the gladiators of WRC2 — the rising stars and seasoned bruisers who’ll make this class feel like its own championship within a championship. Gus Greensmith has swapped his weapon of choice from last season and now rips up the stages in a brand‑new Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. Andreas Mikkelsen, a former category king, returns in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 with Toksport — and you better believe he’s hungry for glory. They’re joined by Robert Virves, and Romet Jürgenson, the 2024 Junior WRC champ stepping up the ladder with a Fiesta Rally2.
Now let’s talk heartbeats and hometown pride: local heroes are pumped up and ready to throw down with the big guns. The reigning African champion Karan Patel headlines the Kenyan contingent in a Škoda Fabia Rally2, with multiple Safari winner Carl “Flash” Tundo — a name that sends a roar through the crowds — bringing decades of hard‑earned wisdom to the dirt. This is where experience meets grit, and the safari’s unpredictable soul can catapult a local legend into global stardom.
So when March 12 rolls around and the engines kick into life beneath the flaming African sky, make no mistake: this isn’t a race — it’s a test of mettle, machine and myth. Expect dust clouds that dance like golden spirits over Kedong and Sleeping Warrior, expect tyre shredding rocks thrown into the jaws of roaring engines, and expect hearts to thump in the chests of fans worldwide as the most brutal, beautiful rally on Earth unfolds.
Want to bet on who’ll stand on top of that podium? That’s a debate worth a thousand campfire tales — but one thing’s for certain: Safari Rally Kenya 2026 is where legends will be made, and every tyre mark left on that unforgiving terrain will tell a story worth reading. So for fans around the globe and adrenaline junkies alike, Safari Rally Kenya 2026 isn’t simply a race — it’s a saga of resilience and heart. Four days of heart‑thumping action where titans clash, legends return, and the Kenyan landscape doesn’t just host the battle — it shapes it. Whether you’re a rally veteran, a curious newcomer, or someone who thrills at stories of bravery and speed, this is where motorsport storytelling reaches full throttle. See you in the dust!