The engines are roaring, the “fesh-fesh” is settling, and the Great Rift Valley is calling. From March 12th to 15th, the 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya returns to Naivasha, and the stakes have never been higher.
While the world’s elite drivers arrive with high-tech machinery, a formidable Ugandan contingent is crossing the border with one mission: to prove that the Pearl of Africa can conquer the roughest terrain on the planet.
Toyota vs. The World
Since the Safari returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, Toyota Gazoo Racing has treated the Kenyan soil like its private playground. This year, they are bringing a “five-car army” to ensure their dominance continues.
Sébastien Ogier (The Legend): The eight-time world champion is back. Having won here in 2021 and 2023, Ogier’s “mechanical sympathy”—the ability to go fast without breaking the car—makes him the odds-on favorite.
Elfyn Evans (The Defender): Currently leading the 2026 World Championship after a clinical win in Sweden, Evans is the defending Safari champion. If he wins in Naivasha, he puts a stranglehold on the title race.
Thierry Neuville (The Challenger): Hyundai’s lead man is desperate. Despite his 2024 World Title, the Safari has often been a nightmare of broken suspensions and bad luck for the Belgian. 2026 is his year to prove the Hyundai i20 N can survive the rocks.
For many Motorsport fans, especially those from Uganda, the real heart of the rally lies in the WRC2 and ARC categories. This year, the local heroes aren’t just going to participate—they are going to compete.
Oscar Ntambi, sponsored by KCB, is the man of the hour. Transitioning from a roadside fan to a fully-fledged WRC contender, Ntambi will be piloting a Mitsubishi Evo X Ralliart. “My main target is to finish,” Ntambi recently noted, wisely acknowledging the “car-breaker” reputation of the Naivasha stages.
Joining him is a “Who’s Who” of Ugandan rallying:
Yasin Nasser: The reigning African Rally Champion (ARC) who took the crown from Kenya’s Karan Patel last year. The rivalry between Nasser and Patel will be the most watched sub-plot of the weekend.
Duncan “Kikankane” Mubiru: A fan favorite whose aggressive style is built for the high-speed savannas of Sleeping Warrior.
Timothy Gawaya: Looking to make his mark in the 2WD category and prove his consistency on the global stage.
