Solberg Leads Toyota Dominance at Safari Rally Kenya

Naivasha, Kenya – Oliver Solberg has surged to the front of the Safari Rally Kenya after a dramatic opening day, establishing a significant lead whereas Toyota locked out the top five positions. The rally, known for its challenging terrain and unpredictable weather, lived up to its reputation on Thursday as a sudden downpour transformed the already muddy stages into a treacherous test of survival.

Solberg, the 2026 Monte Carlo Rally winner, capitalized on favorable road conditions and a blistering pace to open up a commanding lead. The Swede finished the day 33.3 seconds ahead of teammate Elfyn Evans, with reigning world champion Sébastien Ogier a further 1 minute and 5 seconds behind. The performance marks a strong start for Toyota, demonstrating their adaptability to the demanding Kenyan conditions.

Early Stages Defined by Wild Weather

The opening stage, Camp Moran (24.35km), proved to be pivotal. A heavy rain shower just before the start of the stage dramatically worsened the already muddy conditions, prioritizing survival over outright speed. Those starting further up the order, like Solberg, benefited from slightly better visibility and grip. He set a time 30 seconds faster than Evans, who struggled with a misted windscreen.

“I can’t believe we’re in this position again, I can’t see anything,” Evans told reporters. “We were saved a bit by the rain but visibility was severely hampered.” Solberg echoed the sentiment, acknowledging the difficulty of the conditions. “Thirty seconds on Elfyn and a minute on Seb was a bit of a surprise,” he said. “It was so difficult, much more about reading the road than listening to the pacenotes. I tried to use the water splashes as windscreen washer fluid.”

The gap between the top two Toyotas and the rest of the field was substantial. Almost four minutes separated the Rally1 crews, highlighting the dominance of the Japanese manufacturer in these early stages. Sébastien Ogier secured third place, while Takamoto Katsuta and Sami Pajari completed the Toyota lockout of the top five.

Technical Issues Plague Hyundai and M-Sport

While Toyota enjoyed a near-perfect start, the same could not be said for Hyundai and M-Sport. All three Hyundai i20 N Rally1 cars experienced overheating issues during the second stage, Mzabibu, impacting their performance and forcing them to manage temperatures. Josh McErlean’s Ford Puma also suffered similar problems.

These setbacks allowed Jon Armstrong to climb the leaderboard, moving into seventh place ahead of a struggling Adrien Fourmaux. Thierry Neuville, despite the overheating concerns, managed to hold onto sixth position, attempting to minimize the damage to his championship aspirations.

WRC2 Battle and Mikkelsen’s Struggles

In the WRC2 category, Gus Greensmith leads the charge, holding a narrow 3.0-second advantage over Diego Domínguez. The battle for WRC2 supremacy promises to be a closely contested one throughout the rally.

However, Andreas Mikkelsen faced a frustrating start to his rally. The Norwegian driver lost over a minute and forty seconds after running out of windscreen washer fluid on the first stage, severely hindering his visibility in the muddy conditions. The lack of clear vision made navigating the challenging terrain exceptionally difficult.

The Safari Rally Kenya is renowned for its demanding nature, and the opening day has already proven to be a test of both driver skill and mechanical reliability. The unpredictable weather and challenging stages mean that anything can happen, and the battle for victory is far from over.

🌡️ Engines were running hot on FOUR Rally1 cars on SS2

Thierry Neuville, Adrien Fourmaux, Esapekka Lappi and Josh McErlean were all affected ⚠️ pic.twitter.com/RvX1tKUkvQ

— DirtFish (@DirtFishRally) March 12, 2026

The Safari Rally continues on Friday with a series of challenging stages that will further test the endurance of both drivers and machines. Fans can follow live updates and timing information on the official WRC website and social media channels. The next stages are expected to be even more demanding, with potential for further attrition and dramatic shifts in the leaderboard.