France’s Sebastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais steer their Toyota GR Yaris Rally 1 Hybrid during the WRC Safari Rally in Naivasha, Kenya, from March 12-15. The WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026 is set to witness string competition after top names signed up among them two-time winner Sebastien Ogier and 2025 champion Elfyn Evans. Ogier, a two-time Safari Rally champion, and last year’s winner Elfyn Evans lead a star-studded lineup of drivers who have been confirmed for the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026. Reigning constructor’s champions Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team (WRT) head the 46-strong entry list released for the event which will be the third leg of the 2026 WRC. Ogier and Evans front a stacked full team of five cars for Team Toyota, which has won every edition of Africa’s round of the WRC since it returned to the global calendar in 2021. Current championship leader, Oliver Solberg who is fresh from winning the opening leg WRC Rallye Monte Carlo, twice Safari Rally podium finisher Takamoto Katsuta and rising Finnish star, Sami Pajari round off the imposing Gazoo Racing WRT cast. South Korea’s Hyundai Racing WRT has also brought out its best as it chases an elusive first Safari Rally title having been the only team to stop a complete Toyota podium sweep since 2021. Who Else Will Spice Up Safari Rally? Belgium’s Thierry Neuville, the 2024 world champion, headlines the team as he bids to end his string of bad luck in the Safari. Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux who joined Hyundai from American outfit Ford M-Sport Puma WRT and Finnish ace Esapekka Lappi will pilot the other Hyundai cars. Irishmen Joshua McErlean and Jon Amstrong will lead the M-Sport Puma charge that has entered two cars to bring the WRT entries for the Safari Rally to 10 WRC Rally 1 machines. Away from the main category, top local drivers have also made strong entries, with Carl Tundo, a five-time Safari Rally champion (during its WRC hiatus) the most recognised. Two-time Africa Rally Champion Karan Patel, current junior ARC champion Samman Singh Vohra and last year's WRC 3 winner Nikhil Sachania are other big Kenyan entries. The ladies are also well-represented, with local favourites, Tinashe Gatimu returning with her mum Caroline Gatimu in a Ford Fiesta Rally4, which will score towards ARC3.
