2026 Safari Rally: Takamoto Katsuta tip toes through the "Sleeping Warrior" and survives.

NAIVASHA, KENYA:  Day three started with a brutal "fesh-fesh" filled morning loop that systematically dismantled the Toyota juggernaut. Entering the day, the Japanese manufacturer held a commanding 1-2-3-4 lockout, but the Safari is a predator that strikes when you’re most confident.

Championship leader Elfyn Evans, nine-time king Sébastien Ogier, and early leader Oliver Solberg all suffered heart-stopping drama. Punctures were the weapon of choice for the Kenyan terrain; Evans and Solberg both succumbed to double-flats, while Ogier’s charge was halted by a mechanical gremlin that saw him bleed time into the red dust. 

Through the chaos, Takamoto Katsuta found a rhythm that was both rapid and remarkably safe. He moved into the lead during the morning when Sami Pajari suffered a catastrophic rear-tyre explosion on SS12. Katsuta didn’t just survive; he attacked. His performance on SS14 Soysambu 2—the first stage after the midday regroup—was a masterclass in reading the shifting grip of the Rift Valley. 

Overall Standings After Day Two (Saturday, March 14, 2026)

Position	Driver / Co-Driver	Vehicle	Time / Gap
1	Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	2:44:38.2
2	Adrien Fourmaux / Alexandre Coria	Hyundai i20 N Rally1	+1:25.5
3	Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+5:28.4
4	Esapekka Lappi / Enni Mälkönen	Hyundai i20 N Rally1	+6:18.1
5	Robert VIRVES / Jakko VIILO	Skoda Fabia RS	+9.422

The Speculation: A Sunday Shootout in the Sludge

As we look toward the final four stages tomorrow, including the iconic Hell’s Gate Power Stage, the narrative has shifted from "managing the dust" to "navigating the swamp."

• The Mud Factor: The cancellation of SS16 was a warning shot. The roads around Lake Naivasha have been transformed into a red, sticky slurry. If the rains continue overnight, the "hanging dust" that plagued Friday will be replaced by deep, treacherous ruts that can swallow a Rally1 car whole.
• Fourmaux’s Tactical Play: Adrien Fourmaux is in the form of his life. Currently P2, he has opted to protect his position rather than chase Katsuta at all costs. With over a minute to the lead, he’s gambling on Katsuta making a mistake in the mud—a classic Safari strategy.
• Toyota’s Redemption: While Katsuta leads, the rest of the Toyota squad will be on a "maximum attack" mission for Sunday points. Expect Ogier and Evans to take enormous risks on the Oserengoni stages to salvage what they can from a bruising weekend. 

Takamoto Katsuta is just four stages away from a maiden WRC victory. In the Safari, that can feel like an eternity. 

Report: Neil McDaid

Photos: Toyota, Hayundai,

Day one, Rally in the 100aw 2026, "The King of the Cattle Guard" has the last say!

Salem Missouri: The story of Friday unfolded as a thrilling battle between the RC2 “rocketships.” keeping the old guard Travis Pastrana at bay for the most part in his L4WD Factory Subaru, but the "King of the Cattle Guard" would have the last say.

The first pass of the two-stage loop witnessed a dynamic exchange in the overall leader board. In SS1 “Hazel Creek,” Tom Williams and Ross Whitlock, driving their Standard Motorsports-prepared Skoda Fabia Rally2, secured the win with a narrow margin over Sean Johnson in the Renault Cleo. Lia Block and Alex Gelsomino showed impressive speed, securing third place while driving a Hyundai 120 N Rally. 

SS2 saw Patrick Gruszka and Florian Barral take the lead and set an impressive pace during the first pass of the “Floyd Tower West.” Williams followed closely in second place, while Johnson rounded out the top three. Notably, driving first on the road proved to be a significant disadvantage for Travis Pastrana and Rhianon Gelsomino in their factory Subaru, causing them to fall back as far as sixth place.

After a brief service, it was onto the second pass of the 2 stage loop. However, due to spectators encroaching on the stage, the second pass of "Floyd Tower West" SS3 was canceled. Consequently, they moved on to SS4, “Hazel Creek 2.” This time, WRC driver Sean Johnson in his Renault Cleo Rally 3 who would set the fastest time, surpassing Patrick Gruska. With a clear road on the second pass, Travis Pastrana started to claw back time lost on the first pass setting the third fastest time.

The crews returned to service before tackling the final stage of the day, “KP to Ollie Long,” also known as the cattle guard stage due to its massive jump over the guard. Despite running first on the road, sweeping gravel, and lacking any lines to follow, Travis Pastrana relied on his years of experience on this stage and threw caution to the wind. He emerged victorious by a significant margin of 12 seconds, with Tom Williams in second place and Patrick Gruszka in third.

As the rally  concluded for day one, Tom William's held the lead, followed closely by Gruszka and Pastrana, who rounded out the top three. Lia Block, who has just recently transitioned to Rally2 in a brand new (to her) car, demonstrated remarkable adaptability throughout the day. She managed to stay in touch with the leader and finished fifth overall, with her co-driver, Alex Gelsomino. 

Overall Standings After Day One (Unofficial)

Position	Driver / Co-Driver	Vehicle	Gap to Lead
1	Tom Williams / Ross Whittock	Škoda Fabia RS Rally2	--
2	Patrick Gruszka / Florian Barral	Hyundai i20 Rally2	+0.2s
3	Travis Pastrana / Rhianon Gelsomino	Subaru WRX (L4WD)	+0.3s
4	Sean Johnson / Cameron fair	Renault Cleo Rally3	+0.23s
5	Lia Block/ Alex Gelsomino	Hyundai i20 Rally2	+0.31

The Speculation: The Saturday Slog

As we look toward tomorrow’s stages—including the technical gauntlet of “Loop Southern South” the tactical battle moves into a new phase.

• The 0.2s Squeeze: With Williams and Gruszka separated by a mere heartbeat, the opening stage tomorrow will be a "maximum attack" affair. Gruszka has shown incredible consistency, but Williams is a specialist on these fast, flowing Missouri roads.
• The Dust Factor: The "hanging dust" that plagued the back of the field today will be even more critical tomorrow. If the Ozark winds remain still, the three-minute gaps between the top cars might not be enough to ensure clear vision, potentially favoring the leader who has the only clean air in the forest.
• Subaru's Fightback: Don't count out Pastrana. Despite being P3, he is the current L4WD leader and has the top-end speed to reel in the Rally2 cars if the road surfaces remain dry and fast. 
• 
  

The stage is set for a classic Missouri shootout. Will the RC2 precision of Williams hold firm, or will the "Cattle Guard" king, Pastrana, find another gear in the Dent County dirt?

Report: Neil McDaid 

Photos: Subaru Motorsport, Tom Williams FB,

NAIVASHA, Kenya – If you wanted the quintessential Safari, Friday gave it to you in spades. We had the mud of Camp Moran, the bone-jarring ruts of Kedong, and a leaderboard that swung like a pendulum in a gale. By the time the final dust settled on the shores of Lake Naivasha tonight, the 33-second cushion Oliver Solberg slept on last night had been decimated.

He still leads, but only just. One second. That is the razor-thin margin separating the young Swede from the greatest predator this sport has ever seen, Sébastien Ogier. 

The Top Five: A Toyota Titanomachy

Toyota Gazoo Racing continues to exert a stranglehold on the Rift Valley, but the internal hierarchy has been violently reshuffled.

Pos	Driver	Car	Gap to Leader
1	Oliver Solberg	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	—
2	Sébastien Ogier	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+1.0s
3	Elfyn Evans	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+20.5s
4	Sami Pajari	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+1m10.5s
5	Thierry Neuville	Hyundai i20 N Rally1	+1m46.1s

Oliver Solberg looked to be cruising early on, maintaining a 28-second lead at the midday service despite a minor overshoot into the bushes. But the Safari’s infamous "teeth" bit back in the afternoon. A puncture on the second test of the repeat loop saw his advantage evaporate. 

Sébastien Ogier, meanwhile, was in vintage form. Starting the day over a minute back, he swept through the morning and afternoon like a man possessed, claiming stage wins and systematically hunting down his younger teammate. 

Dramatic Moments: Ruts and Retirements

The sheer brutality of the terrain forced the cancellation of the morning’s opening Camp Moran stage (SS3) due to "deteriorated road conditions" caused by overnight rain. When the action finally resumed, the drama was relentless. 

The biggest story outside the lead battle was Thierry Neuville. After a disastrous Thursday where he lacked any confidence in his Hyundai, the Belgian found his feet today, climbing into the top five. Conversely, Takamoto Katsuta—a perennial Safari favorite—dropped down the order to 7th after suffering a puncture during the afternoon loop. 

In the WRC2 category, Gus Greensmith continues to lead in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally2, sitting 10th overall. He has been the model of consistency while others, including Sami Pajari earlier in the day, battled through the lottery of the rocks. 

Speculation: The Saturday Sprint

The psychological battle is now at fever pitch. Solberg has the lead, but Ogier has the momentum. Tomorrow’s itinerary features the legendary Sleeping Warrior stage—a place where rallies are won or lost in the blink of an eye.

With the gap at exactly one second, we are effectively starting the rally over. Ogier knows how to win by a whisker; Solberg is hungry to prove he can handle the pressure of a nine-time champion breathing down his neck. If the predicted afternoon rain arrives tomorrow, we could see a total reset of the standings once again.

With the lead down to a single second and the Sleeping Warrior looming, do you think Oliver Solberg can maintain his composure under direct pressure from Sébastien Ogier tomorrow?

2026 WRC Safari Rally, Mud, Dust, and Drama: Solberg leads out another commanding performance by Toyota

 

Naivasha, Kenya,  can’t just turn up to the Safari and expect it to behave. You don’t "race" Kenya; you negotiate with it, and on Thursday’s opening leg of the 2026 WRC Safari Rally, the Great Rift Valley was in no mood for compromise.

By the time the mud and dust settled around Lake Naivasha tonight, it was Oliver Solberg who emerged from the haze with a commanding lead. Now driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 as a full-time factory man, the young Swede looked every bit the natural successor to the legends who have tamed this wilderness before him. But as any veteran of the Safari—from the era of Mehta to the modern day—will tell you, Thursday is merely the prologue to the pain.

The Top Five: A Toyota Takeover

Toyota Gazoo Racing has historically owned these plains, and Day One of 2026 suggests the script hasn't changed. They currently occupy the entire top five in a display of sheer mechanical dominance.

Pos	Driver	Car	Gap to Leader
1	Oliver Solberg	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	—
2	Elfyn Evans	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+33.3s
3	Sébastien Ogier	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+1m05.1s
4	Takamoto Katsuta	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+1m15.3s
5	Sami Pajari	Toyota GR Yaris Rally1	+2m06.4s

Solberg was masterful, finding grip where others found only "fesh-fesh". Behind him, championship leader Elfyn Evans played the long game, mindful that his 13-point lead in the standings could evaporate in a single mud-hole. Ogier, returning for his partial program, remains the ultimate predator in the weeds, lurking just over a minute back.

Drama and Heartbreak

It wouldn't be the Safari without a casualty list that reads like a tragedy. The most significant retirement of the day belonged to Lancia’s Yohan Rossel. In a moment of pure Safari cruelty, Rossel clipped a hidden rock on a narrow section, ending his day prematurely and leaving teammate Nikolay Gryazin to fly the flag in WRC2.

Over at Hyundai, the mood is as dark as a Kenyan storm cloud. Thierry Neuville—so often the bridesmaid in Africa—admitted to having "zero confidence" after dropping nearly 45 seconds on the opening test. He’s currently mired in ninth, struggling with a car that seems to be fighting the terrain rather than flowing with it.

The Speculation: A Muddy Weekend Ahead?

The local word in Naivasha is that the rains are coming. If the dust turns to the infamous "black cotton" mud tomorrow, Solberg’s 33-second lead over Evans will mean nothing. We’ve seen Evans win here by being the last man standing, and with the Sleeping Warrior stage looming on Friday, the real Safari starts tomorrow.

Can Toyota maintain this 1-2-3-4-5? History says yes, but the African sky might have other plans.

Report: Neil McDaid

Photos: Toyota Gazoo, Jon Armstrong FB