A 46-car entry list has been confirmed for this year’s World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya, the third round of the FIA World Rally Championship, which gets underway in Naivasha, Nakuru County, on Thursday, March 12. The confirmation follows the scrutineering exercise conducted on Wednesday, a day before the official shakedown in Naivasha. This year’s rally will cover 218 miles (350.8km) over four days, slightly shorter than last year’s 239 miles (384.6km) route. Also Read: Rwandan drivers optimistic ahead of WRC Safari Rally Kenya The 20-stage event, which concludes on Sunday, March 15, ushers in a new era for the Safari Rally, widely regarded as the toughest test on the WRC calendar, as it will be based entirely in the Great Rift Valley. For the first time since its return to the WRC calendar in 2021, the rally will not start in the Kenyan capital Nairobi. The change follows new FIA regulations that have reduced the rally week from five days to four. This year marks the 74th edition of the historic event, which began in 1953 as the East Africa Coronation Rally. It joined the WRC in 1973 before adopting the name Safari Rally a year later. The rally was dropped from the WRC calendar in 2002 but made a comeback in 2021 after the 2020 edition was cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Since its return, Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT has dominated the event, winning every edition. Welsh driver Elfyn Evans, last year’s champion, returns to defend his title. Evans is among 10 WRC Rally1 drivers competing this year, with Toyota fielding a strong five-driver lineup as they aim to maintain their dominance. The team also includes ten-time world champion Sébastien Ogier (France), Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), and Sami Pajari (Finland). Their main rivals, Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT, have also entered a competitive lineup after securing their best Safari Rally result in 2025, finishing second and third. While last year’s runner-up Ott Tänak (Estonia) will not compete this year, 2024 world champion Thierry Neuville (Belgium) returns to challenge for his first Safari Rally victory on his sixth attempt. French driver Adrien Fourmaux, who recently moved from M-Sport Ford to Hyundai, will also compete alongside Esapekka Lappi (Finland), who will debut Hyundai’s new Evo machine in the Safari Rally. Meanwhile, Irish drivers Josh McErlean and John Armstrong will pilot the two M-Sport Ford Puma cars entered in the Rally1 category. The Rally2 category has also attracted several strong entries, including Britain’s Gus Greensmith, last year’s Rally2 winner. Among the leading Kenyan competitors are two-time African champion Karan Patel, Samman Singh Zohra, and Jeremiah Wahome, all driving Skoda Fabia R5 cars. Drivers will also compete for points in the WRC Rally3 and African Rally Championship (ARC) categories. Last year’s Rally3 champion Nikhil Sachania of Kenya has moved up to the Rally2 category, meaning a new Rally3 champion will be crowned on Sunday. Revised route and stages The 2026 route has undergone its most significant changes since the rally returned to the WRC calendar. The traditional ceremonial start and Kasarani Super Special Stage in Nairobi have been removed, with the rally now based entirely in Naivasha. Fans will instead watch Thursday’s shakedown at the new Nawisa stage before cars assemble at the Wildlife Training and Research Institute (WLRI) Service Park for the ceremonial start. The opening day will feature the Camp Moran 1 and Mzabibu 1 stages. Friday will be the longest day of the rally, featuring stages including Camp Moran 2, Loldia 1, Geothermal 1, Kedong 1 and 2, Geothermal 2, Loldia 2, and Mzabibu 2. On Saturday, drivers will tackle Soysambu, Elementaita, and Sleeping Warrior, each run twice. The rally will conclude on Sunday with stages at Oserengoni 1, Hell’s Gate 1, Oserengoni 2, and the final Wolf Power Stage (Hell’s Gate 2). Unlike previous years, there will be no midday service before the final stages. The Power Stage traditionally offers additional WRC points and attracts large crowds, as even drivers who have retired earlier in the rally can return to compete for bonus points. The rally will finish with the ceremonial podium at Hell’s Gate. Overall, the 2026 Safari Rally will feature 350km of competitive distance and 843km of liaison sections. The Loldia stage (25.6km) is the longest of the rally, while Mzabibu (8.27km) is the shortest and will once again host the Rally Village.
