Kenya’s President William Ruto takes a photo with drivers after the
conclusion of the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya
NAIVASHA, Kenya, 18 March 2026 -/African Media Agency(AMA)/ – The dust
settled on another thrilling edition of the legendary Safari Rally Kenya
as the third round of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC)
concluded Sunday amid scenes of celebration across the Rift Valley.
Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston secured a
historic maiden victory in the WRC, conquering the brutal terrain after
four days of high drama on the toughest gravel rally in the world.
The Toyota Gazoo Racing (TGR) WRT pair inherited the lead during a
chaotic Saturday morning when multiple frontrunners retired in the
killer Sleeping Warrior stage.
TGR team-mates Oliver Solberg, Sébastien Ogier and Elfyn Evans, ran
into trouble on the punishing SS13 section and the demanding transport
section that followed.
Katsuta had deliberately adopted a cautious, survival-first approach as
his peers bowed out all around him, and his strategy paid ultimate
dividends.
After establishing an overnight lead of over a minute and 25 seconds at
the end of Day 3, the popular Japanese ace nursed his GR Yaris Rally 1
in Sunday’s four stages to clinch his biggest WRC career win by 27.4s.
M-Sport’s Jon Armstrong leaves a trail of dust behind as fans watch on
at the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya
Kenyan President William Ruto attended the closing ceremony in Naivasha,
praising the event’s global significance and offering reassurance
about the country’s commitment to keeping the iconic event on the world
stage.
“The Safari Rally is part of Kenya’s sporting heritage and a global
showcase for our country,” said President Ruto.
He added: “The participation of fans from across the East African
Community has elevated the Safari Rally into a truly regional event.
Your presence shows the power of sport to bring East Africa together.”
From the ceremonial flag-off on Thursday to the dramatic finale at
Hell’s Gate National Park, tens of thousands of fans lined the stages
across the Great Rift Valley, transforming the rally into a rolling
festival of motorsport, colour and culture.
Scores of supporters gathered on rocky hilltops, dusty plains and river
crossings to witness the world’s best rally drivers wrestle with the
brutal conditions that make the Safari Rally unique.
For drivers, the rally delivered exactly what its reputation promises:
adventure, endurance and breathtaking beauty.
Irish Rally Academy Driver Josh McErlean navigates his M-Sport Ford Puma
Rally1 through the mud at the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya
Competitors carved through choking clouds of ‘fesh-fesh’ dust,
thundered across rocky escarpments and plunged through muddy water
crossings as the Rift Valley’s scenic landscapes provided a
breathtaking backdrop to the action.
The legendary stages, including the unforgiving plains of Soysambu and
the winding roads beneath the Sleeping Warrior delivered mechanical
failures and punctures that humbled the world’s best rally machines.
Throw in the unpredictable weather to the mix, sudden rains
interchanging with baking sunshine, left competitors to contend with
muddy and dusty sections that broke their cars and brought out their
best driving skills.
On offer were trophies and points in the WRC1, WRC2 and WRC3 global
categories as well as the African national championships.
Behind the WRC contenders, local drivers thrilled home fans who gathered
in huge numbers across spectator zones stretching from Naivasha to
Elementaita to cheer them on.
Rally veteran Carl Tundo, who now serves as the Head of Secretariat for
the WRC Safari Rally, praised the scale of support from fans across the
region.
“What we have witnessed this week – the crowds, the passion, the
atmosphere – shows just how much this rally means to Kenya and to the
entire East African region,” he said.
“Our focus now is to build on that momentum and continue raising the
standard of the Safari Rally so that it grows even stronger for teams,
fans and partners in the years ahead,” added the five-time winner of
the WRC Safari Rally.
SportPesa Racing driver Leonardo Varese navigates a rough section of the
course during the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya
For title contenders in the WRC, the Safari Rally once again proved why
it is widely regarded as the most demanding round of the season.
Also read: https://brandspurng.com/2026/03/18/the-bottleneck-slowing-africas-fintech-momentum/
Toyota, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT and M-Sport Ford Puma WRT crews were
forced to adapt to rapidly changing conditions, where a single puncture
or suspension failure ended podium challenges in seconds.
Corporate partners also embraced the carnival atmosphere, with fan zones
and entertainment areas set up by sponsors throughout Naivasha.
SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri hailed the rally’s ability to unite fans
across the continent.
“The Safari Rally is a celebration of Kenya, of Africa and of the
incredible passion our people have for sport,” Karauri said.
He added: “The energy we’ve seen from fans this week shows why this
rally deserves to remain a permanent fixture on the global motorsport
calendar.”
As engines fell silent in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Sunday attention
now turns to the future of the iconic event.
The current contract to keep the Safari Rally in the WRC ended this year
and discussions on a renewal are expected to gather momentum in the
coming months.
Many across Kenya and the wider East African region hope the
extraordinary turnout has once again demonstrated why the Safari Rally
belongs on the global championship calendar.
