Thierry Neuville laid down an early marker at the 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya on Thursday, topping the shakedown as crews prepared for what is widely expected to be another demanding edition of the event.

The Belgian Hyundai driver fired the first warning shot after clocking the fastest time during Thursday morning’s shakedown at the Nawisa stage in Naivasha.

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The rally began with the 6.31km Naivasha Wildlife Sanctuary (Nawisa) shakedown stage, where Neuville posted a time of 4:33.1 on the brand-new test stage.

His effort was enough to edge Toyota’s Oliver Solberg by 1.8 seconds, while fellow Toyota youngster Sami Pajari completed the top three.

While Neuville topped the shakedown timesheets, the main focus for many teams—particularly regional entrants—will be simply finishing the gruelling rally, which features 20 special stages covering 350.52km.

This year’s Safari Rally has already taken on a new dimension after heavy rains soaked sections of the route in the days leading up to the event, leaving drivers bracing for potentially treacherous conditions as the third round of the World Rally Championship begins.

Also Read: Rwandan drivers optimistic ahead of WRC Safari Rally Kenya

Championship leader Elfyn Evans finished fourth after initially setting the joint-fastest time on the opening shakedown run alongside Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux.

Evans cautioned that the unpredictable Kenyan terrain could quickly turn the rally into a test of endurance.

Multiple world champion Sébastien Ogier completed the top five and believes survival could play a decisive role once the competitive stages begin.

Finland’s Esapekka Lappi placed sixth in the shakedown and predicted a "very wild” rally as drivers prepare for the demanding Kenyan terrain.

Meanwhile, Queen Kalimpinya’s Subaru Impreza WRX STi GVB and Jean Claude Gakwaya’s Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X were retired before the end of the first section of the Safari Rally, leaving Giancarlo Davite and Christian Kanangire as the only Rwandan drivers staying in the rally.

The rally officially gets underway later on Thursday with the opening competitive stages around Naivasha.

2026 Safari Rally Shakedown results (Top Times)

1. Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) – 4:33.1

2. Oliver Solberg (Toyota) – +1.8s

3. Sami Pajari (Toyota) – +2.2s

4. Elfyn Evans (Toyota) – +2.4s

5. Sébastien Ogier (Toyota) – +2.6s