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,

Rally2 Rebellion at the 100 Acre Wood

Salem, Missouri, Round 2 of the 2026 ARA championship, Rally in the 100 Acre Wood. This high-speed sprint through the Ozarks demands absolute commitment, with blinding dust or deep water crossings, depending on the weather. The stakes are always high, but this year, with Subaru no longer fielding two Open class cars, a new crop of young drivers  setting their sights on the overall podium.

The big story? It has to be the world debut of the Toyota GR Corolla RC2, the car was built/prepared in Vermont by the subsidiary of Vermont Sport car, so basically built by VSC, with lot of input from Toyota WRC, team boss Jari-Matti Latvala, has even been to the USA to test the car during development. . Seeing a factory-backed Toyota on American gravel feels like a fever dream for those of us who remember the ProRally days of the '80s. Piloting this monster is Dakar sensation Seth Quintero, and let’s be honest, the pressure is immense. Can a desert specialist find the rhythm on these lightning-fast, undulating Missouri stages, keeping it on the correct side of the camber and out of the trees will be job number 1. 

Coming off a disastrous last stage DNF on round one,  Lia Block, is back for more with Alex Gelsomino calling the notes, she’s finding a level of consistency that’s starting to look very familiar to those of us who watched her father dominate these woods. Word is that Lia will debut a Hyundai Rally2 car which will be run by PCRS out of Ireland, word also has it, that Patrick Gruszka’s Hyundai will now be run by PCRS, after his DNF at Sno drift. This car is a big step up for Lia and she definitely will be a contender for the podium. 

The return of Tom Williams. The 2022 RC2 champion and former WRC competitor is back, and he’s swapped his familiar Ford for a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 prepared by Standard Motorsport. Williams isn't here to make up the numbers; with a more level playing field with Subaru’s open class cars sidelined, an overall podium is not out of the question for Tom.  

And then there are the icons, Travis Pastrana remains the spiritual heart of the ARA, a man who has won this event multiple times and knows every rock in the Mark Twain National Forest. As mentioned Subaru’s open class cars are out 2026 so Travis will continue as the soul driver for the team in the newly developed w L4WD car.

Rounding out a stacked field will be Irish driver Aoife Raftery, a DirtFish-backed talent stepping into a Ford Fiesta Rally3. Also we can't not mention the ever-present threat of privateer and round one winner, Mark Piatkowski, who has moved to an L4WD for 100AW.

Because of the unique, super-fast surface of Rally in the 100AW, going out first on the road can often be an advantage due to the hard-packed gravel with very limited to no gravel sweeping. It's really difficult to predict a winner for this one. Of course, Travis would be an easy pick, but with the new car still having some issues when pushed hard, it's wide open.

Report/Photo: Neil McDaid