Are you ready for high-adrenaline action? From the brutal “fesh-fesh” sand of Kedong to the high-speed savannah of Sleeping Warrior, this is where the WRC’s toughest machines are pushed to their absolute breaking point.
Here is everything you need to know about the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026. The Safari Rally was first held in 1953 as the East African Coronation Safari across Kenya, Uganda, and Tanganyika, a celebration of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
In 1960, it was renamed the East African Safari Rally and kept that name until 1974, when it became the Kenya Safari Rally. It then evolved into the current modern-day World Rally Championship (WRC). Safari Rally is currently the most popular event on the WRC calendar, alongside the 1,000 Lakes of Finland and Monte Carlo.
Safari Rally Kenya Winners
The late Kenyan rally ace Shekhar Mehta and fellow Kenyan Carl Tundo are the event’s most successful drivers, with five victories each. Mehta emerged victorious in the first event of the WRC calendar at the Safari Rally in 1973. He went on to win four more times, from 1979 to 1982. Tundo, on the other hand, has won the rally five times, but all his victories came from editions held outside of the WRC schedule. These events were held in 2004, 2009, 2011, 2012, and 2018.
During its run as a WRC event from 1973 to 2002, the 1979 world champion Bjorn Waldegard and four-time world title winner Juha Kankkunen scored four wins. The Safari Rally was the scene of Colin McRae’s final WRC win in 2002. It was the 1995 world champion’s third Safari Rally triumph, alongside wins for Subaru in 1997 and Ford in 1999 and 2002.
World champions Miki Biasion, Tommi Makinen, and Richard Burns have all won the rally twice. Toyota has dominated the rally since returning to the FIA World Rally Championship in 2021, and the Safari has resumed its reputation as one of motorsport’s toughest challenges. It’s a challenge that TGR-WRT has risen to with four consecutive victories, extending Toyota’s record tally of wins at the event to 11. That includes a historic pair of 1-2-3-4 results in the years 2022 and 2023.
Sebastien Ogier won the WRC Safari Rally in 2021 and 2023, while Kalle Rovanpera claimed victory in 2022 and 2024. Elfyn Evans won the 2025 WRC Safari Rally.
| Year | Driver | Co-Driver | Rally Car |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Elfyn Evans | Scott Martin | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2024 | Kalle Rovanperä | Jonne Halttunen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2023 | Sébastien Ogier | Vincent Landais | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2022 | Kalle Rovanperä | Jonne Halttunen | Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 |
| 2021 | Sébastien Ogier | Julien Ingrassia | Toyota Yaris WRC |
| 2002 | Colin McRae | Nicky Grist | Ford Focus RS WRC 02 |
| 2001 | Tommi Mäkinen | Risto Mannisenmäki | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5 |
| 2000 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Subaru Impreza WRC00 |
| 1999 | Colin McRae | Nicky Grist | Ford Focus WRC |
| 1998 | Richard Burns | Robert Reid | Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV |
| 1997 | Colin McRae | Nicky Grist | Subaru Impreza WRC97 |
| 1996 | Tommi Mäkinen | Seppo Harjanne | Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III |
| 1994 | Ian Duncan | David Williamson | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD |
| 1993 | Juha Kankkunen | Juha Piironen | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD |
| 1992 | Carlos Sainz | Luis Moya | Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD |
| 1991 | Juha Kankkunen | Juha Piironen | Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v |
| 1990 | Björn Waldegård | Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165 |
| 1989 | Miki Biasion | Tiziano Siviero | Lancia Delta HF Integrale |
| 1988 | Miki Biasion | Tiziano Siviero | Lancia Delta HF Integrale |
| 1987 | Hannu Mikkola | Arne Hertz | Audi 200 Quattro |
| 1986 | Björn Waldegård | Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1985 | Juha Kankkunen | Fred Gallagher | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1984 | Björn Waldegård | Hans Thorszelius | Toyota Celica TCT |
| 1983 | Ari Vatanen | Terry Harryman | Opel Ascona 400 |
| 1982 | Shekhar Mehta | Mike Doughty | Nissan Violet GT |
| 1981 | Shekhar Mehta | Mike Doughty | Nissan Violet GT |
| 1980 | Shekhar Mehta | Mike Doughty | Datsun 160J |
| 1979 | Shekhar Mehta | Mike Doughty | Datsun 160J |
| 1978 | Jean-Pierre Nicolas | Jean-Claude Lefèbvre | Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé |
| 1977 | Björn Waldegård | Hans Thorszelius | Ford Escort RS1800 |
| 1976 | Joginder Singh | David Doig | Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR |
| 1975 | Ove Andersson | Arne Hertz | Peugeot 504 |
| 1974 | Joginder Singh | David Doig | Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR |
| 1973 | Shekhar Mehta | Lofty Drews | Datsun 240Z |
WRC Safari Rally 2026
Safari Rally Kenya is a motorsport adventure like no other. Known as one of the toughest and most unpredictable events on the calendar, it challenges drivers with rough terrain, deep ruts, and the ever-present threat of sudden rainfall. Set in the heart of Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes, the rally blends modern WRC competition with the spirit of classic endurance events.
Key Highlights
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Rugged Terrain: Drivers tackle rocky roads, sandy tracks, and water crossings, all while battling intense heat.
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Wildlife Encounters: Elephants, giraffes, and zebras make this rally uniquely Kenyan.
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Historic Legacy: After returning to the WRC in 2021, Safari Rally Kenya revived the spirit of classic endurance rallies.
The WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026 (March 12–15) features a strong 46-car entry list spanning Rally1, Rally2, Rally3, and national categories. The field is led by factory entries from Toyota Gazoo Racing, Hyundai Shell Mobis, and M-Sport Ford, with major WRC2 contenders and a large East African regional contingent from Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, and Tanzania.
Rally1 (Top Class)
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT
- Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson (#99) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (#33) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais (#1) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (#18) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT2
- Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (#5) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT
- Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria (#16) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
- Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (#11) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
- Esapekka Lappi / Enni Mälkönen (#4) – Hyundai i20 N Rally1
M-Sport Ford WRT
- Joshua McErlean / Eoin Treacy (#55) – Ford Puma Rally1
- Jon Armstrong / Shane Byrne (#95) – Ford Puma Rally1
WRC2 / Rally2 Contenders
- Gus Greensmith / Jonas Andersson (#20) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
- Robert Virves / Jakko Viilo (#21) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
- Andreas Mikkelsen / Jørn Listerud (#22) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
- Fabrizio Zaldivar / Marcelo Der Ohannesian (#23) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
- Romet Jürgenson / Siim Oja (#24) – Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally2
- Diego Domínguez / Rogelio Peñate (#25) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
- Daniel Chwist / Kamil Heller (#26) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
Kenyan / Regional WRC2 Entries
- Karan Patel / Tauseef Khan (#27) – Skoda Fabia Rally2
- Samman Singh Vohra / Drew Sturrock (#29) – Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
- Jeremiah Wahome / Victor Okundi (#30) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
- Andrea Lafarja / Germán Maune (#31) – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
- Issa Amwari / Dennis Mwenda (#32) – Skoda Fabia Rally2
- Aakif Virani / Zahir Shah (#34) – Skoda Fabia Rally2
- Ishmael Azeli / John Ngugi (#35) – Skoda Fabia RS Rally2
Rally3 Entries
- Nataniel Bruun / Pablo Olmos (#36) – Ford Fiesta Rally3
- Georgios Vasilakis / Allaa Harryman (#37) – Ford Fiesta Rally3
- Naveen Puligilla / Musa Sherif (#38) – Ford Fiesta Rally3
- Nikhil Sachania / Deep Patel (#39) – Ford Fiesta Rally3
Regional ARC / Rally2 Entries
- Adnan Din / Hamza Anwar (#40) – Ford Fiesta Rally2
- Yasin Nasser / Ali Katumba (#41) – Ford Fiesta Mk II Rally2
- Jasmeet Chana / Ravinder Chana (#42) – Ford Fiesta Rally2
- Joseph Gacheche / Sofia Rantasalo (#43) – Skoda Fabia Evo Rally2
National & Regional Rally Entries (NR4 / NR2)
- Duncan Mubiru / Joseph Kamya (#44) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
- Rwanda Rally Team – Giancarlo Davite / Fabrice Nyiridandi (#45) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
- Evans Nzioka / Absalom Aswani (#46) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- Oscar Ntambi / Uthuman Muhamadi (#47) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- Sameer Nanji / Suraj Pala (#48) – Subaru Impreza WRX
- Harpreet Singh Bhogal / Gordon Noble (#49) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- Queen Kalimpinya / Olivier Ngabo (#50) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
- Rwanda Rally Team – Jean Claude Gakwaya / Jean Claude Mugabo (#51) – Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X
- Rwanda Rally Team – Christian Kanangire / Kevin Shyaka (#52) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
Junior / Women Crews
- Tinashe Gatimu / Caroline Gatimu (#53) – Ford Fiesta (NR2)
- Timothy Gawaya / Francis Wamala (#54) – Seat Ibiza (NR2)
- Pauline Sheghu / Linet Ayuko (#56) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
- Lisa Christoffers-Offersen / Christabel Mwangi (#57) – Subaru Impreza WRX STi
The 2026 WRC Safari Rally will be held from Thursday, March 12th, to Sunday, March 15th, 2026, in Nairobi County and Naivasha (Nakuru County). The rally will kick off with a flag-off at Nairobi’s Uhuru Park on Thursday, March 12th, 2025; crews will head to the Kasarani Grounds for the Super Special Stage.
The Safari Rally is usually characterized by closed dirt roads, picturesque scenery, exotic wildlife, rocky and rutted tracks, and unpredictable weather that frequently turns dusty roads into slippery and tricky mud baths. Kenya’s Safari Rally has always been a challenge for drivers of all categories because it is unpredictable, longer, and filled with pitfalls, adding to the adventure for spectators.
Safari Rally Kenya 2025 Results
Top 10 Final Results (2025 WRC Safari Rally Kenya)
1. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin (Toyota) – 4:20:03.8
2. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja (Hyundai) – +1:09.9
3. Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai) – +3:32.0
4. Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (Toyota) – +7:18.7
5. Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota) – +8:15.7
6. Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford) – +11:35.3
7. Gus Greensmith / Jonas Andersson (WRC2 – Škoda) – +14:11.6
8. Jan Solans / Rodrigo Sanjuan (WRC2 – Toyota) – +17:26.6
9. Jourdan Serderidis / Frédéric Miclotte (Ford) – +28:45.5
10. Fabrizio Zaldívar / Marcelo Der Ohannesian (WRC2 – Škoda) – +35:38.8
Safari Rally Kenya Recent Winners
- 2025: Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- 2024: Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- 2023: Sébastien Ogier / Vincent Landais Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- 2022: Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
- 2021: Sébastien Ogier / Julien Ingrassia Toyota Yaris WRC
- 2019*: Baldev Chager / Ravi Soni Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4
- 2018*: Carl Tundo / Tim Jessop Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4
Safari Rally 2026 Route
Thursday, March 12th, 2026
(Shakedown & Opening Day)
Shakedown – Nawisa – 08:01 hours (6.31 km)
Shakedown – Nawisa – 10:01 hours (6.31 km)
Shakedown – Nawisa – 11:01 hours (6.31 km)
Official Ceremonial Start – WRTI Naivasha – 15:00 hours
SS 1 Camp Moran 1 – 16:05 hours (24.35 km)
SS 2 Mzabibu 1 – 17:23 hours (8.86 km)
Flexi Service A – WRTI Naivasha – 18:23 hours
Park Fermé – WRTI Naivasha – 19:08 hours
Thursday Total Stage Distance: 33.21 km (9%)
Friday, March 13th, 2026
(Longest Day of the Rally)
Park Fermé OUT – WRTI Naivasha – 07:00 hours
SS 3 Camp Moran 2 – 08:03 hours (24.35 km)
SS 4 Loldia 1 – 09:06 hours (25.04 km)
SS 5 Kengen Geothermal 1 – 10:24 hours (13.16 km)
SS 6 Kedong 1 – 11:17 hours (13.79 km)
Service B – WRTI Naivasha – 12:57 hours
SS 7 Kedong 2 – 14:00 hours (13.79 km)
SS 8 Kengen Geothermal 2 – 14:58 hours (13.16 km)
SS 9 Loldia 2 – 15:56 hours (25.04 km)
SS 10 Mzabibu 2 – 16:59 hours (8.86 km)
Flexi Service C – 17:59 hours
Park Fermé – 18:44 hours
Friday Total Stage Distance: 137.19 km (39%)
Saturday, March 14th, 2026
(Rift Valley Gravel Stages)
Park Fermé OUT – WRTI Naivasha – 07:15 hours
SS 11 Soysambu 1 – 08:35 hours (24.94 km)
SS 12 Elmenteita 1 – 09:35 hours (18.01 km)
SS 13 Sleeping Warrior 1 – 10:33 hours (18.41 km)
Service D – WRTI Naivasha – 13:15 hours
SS 14 Soysambu 2 – 15:05 hours (24.94 km)
SS 15 Elmenteita 2 – 16:05 hours (18.01 km)
SS 16 Sleeping Warrior 2 – 17:03 hours (18.41 km)
Flexi Service E – 19:28 hours
Park Fermé – 20:13 hours
Saturday Total Stage Distance: 122.72 km (35%)
Sunday, March 15th, 2026
(Final Day & Power Stage)
Park Fermé OUT – WRTI Naivasha – 07:00 hours
SS 17 Oserengoni 1 – 08:09 hours (18.22 km)
SS 18 Hell’s Gate 1 – 09:35 hours (10.48 km)
SS 19 Oserengoni 2 – 10:38 hours (18.22 km)
SS 20 Hell’s Gate 2 – 13:15 hours (10.48 km)
(Power Stage)
Podium / Ceremonial Finish – Hell’s Gate – 14:15 hours
Final Park Fermé – WRTI Naivasha – 15:50 hours
Sunday Total Stage Distance: 57.40 km (16%)
Safari Rally 2026 Spectator Stages
Day 1: Thursday, 12th March 2026
Event: Shakedown and official ceremonial start of the rally in Naivasha, followed by the first competitive stages.
Spectator Zones:
- Nawisa Shakedown
- Camp Moran
- Mzabibu (Morendat Farm)
Day 2: Friday, 13th March 2026
Event: Longest and toughest day of the rally with classic Rift Valley gravel stages.
Spectator Zones:
- Camp Moran
- Loldia
- Kengen Geothermal
- Kedong
Day 3: Saturday, 14th March 2026
Event: A full day of rally action across the Rift Valley with multiple spectator viewing areas.
Spectator Zones:
- Soysambu
- Elementaita
- Sleeping Warrior
Day 4: Sunday, 15th March 2026
Event: Final day of the rally including the decisive Power Stage and podium ceremony.
Spectator Zones:
- Oserengoni
- Hell’s Gate (Power Stage)
- Hell’s Gate Podium Finish
Photo Credits: @Zollz (X)
WRC Kenya 2026 Tickets
WRC Safari Rally 2026 is completely free; there is no ticket that you need to access the venue so beware of scammers.
How to Watch the Safari Rally
For fans in Kenya, the national broadcaster KBC will televise selected rounds, offering a front-row seat to the local audience.
UK viewers can catch every round live on TNT Sports (formerly BT Sport), with subscriptions available for new customers at £18 per month.
This package not only provides access to TNT’s sports channels but also includes Discovery+, enhancing your viewing experience across various devices.
Rally.tv presents an alternative for those preferring online streaming, boasting rights to broadcast the event, ensuring fans worldwide don’t miss out on the action.
Moreover, Discovery+ emerges as a versatile platform for watching the rally, catering to a broad audience with its extensive coverage.
Did you miss a stage? No problem. Highlights for the Safari Rally will be accessible via KBC, Red Bull TV, TNT Sports, and ITV4, with each offering comprehensive packages to recap the day’s events.
Autosport and the WRC’s official YouTube channel will also provide daily highlights, ensuring fans stay up-to-date with the rally’s progress.
WRC Safari Rally 2026 Live Stream
For this year’s event, the Shakedown, Kasarani, Elementaita, and Hells Gate Power Stage will be live on WRC TV
WRC Safari Rally 2026 Accommodation
Those who would like to stay there for the whole period that the rally is meant to happen should have booked their accommodation by now. Naivasha is a beautiful space, and you have many places to choose from, but ensure your location is at least accessible to where the rally is happening or the routes the rally drivers will be using. This is because almost the whole country will be there, and traffic is usually wild, so ensure you don’t get to the venue when the rally is almost over if you intend to watch it. Accommodation options;
List Of Best Camping Sites In Naivasha
List Of Best Airbnb Vacation Rentals In Nakuru
List Of Best Camping Sites In Naivasha
Carry plenty of water, hydrate, and don’t forget to pack as little clothing as possible because the weather can get quite hot at times. If your goal is simply to get out of town, make sure you have a travel itinerary and activities planned for while you’re there. You can take a boat ride on Lake Naivasha, visit Hell’s Gate, hike to the Menengai crater, or simply relax at one of the resorts along the Naivasha-Nakuru-Nairobi route.
Avoid drinking and driving; your safety comes first. Always make sure that everyone in your car is sober before getting behind the wheel.
Here’s an FAQ about the Safari Rally in 2026
1. Why is the Safari Rally the hardest?
Drivers often look forward to competing on the expansive roads in Naivasha due to their unpredictable nature. The dusty roads could easily turn muddy and impassable in the event of rainfall, which is always a possibility. Fesh fesh is a term you will probably hear a lot from motorsports enthusiasts. It refers to the fine dust on the roads that looks like solid ground. On rocky terrain, it is extremely slippery, and it usually sticks to the engines of the cars, thereby causing major performance issues. It also lingers in the air, which causes major visibility issues for drivers. Teams often struggle to deal with it. In 2022 and 2023, Toyota did the unthinkable by sweeping all the podium places.
