NAIVASHA, Kenya, March 14- Disaster struck for favourites Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT on the first loop of the brutal Day Three of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026, as three of their top drivers – Oliver Solberg, Sebastien Ogier, and Elfyn Evans – retired on Saturday morning.
First to go was World Rally Championship (WRC) leader and last year’s Safari Rally winner, Evans who retired in SS13 Sleeping Warrior 1 after destroying his rear suspension.
The Welshman had been running second overall at the end of the morning loop when his rear-right suspension broke after hitting a hidden stone.
Then both Solberg and Ogier, who finished the stage 1-2 in the leaderboard, bowed out in the transport section enroute to the midday service at WTRI, Naivasha with alternator issues.
The drama elevated another Toyota star Takamoto Katsuta to the summit in a stunning sequence of events at the world’s toughest rally.
The Japanese driver had adopted a cautious approach through the morning, running without any spare tyres after suffering punctures earlier in the loop.
“It is super muddy and tricky and we have no spare so I completely backed off,” Katsuta said. “It is better to stay in the game and anything can happen in the afternoon.” Toyota’s deputy principal and former three-time WRC Safari Rally winner, Juha Kankkunen expressed his disappointment but noted that he is never surprised with the unpredictable Safari conditions.
“It’s disappointing for the team but we’ll fix the cars and return for the Super Rally on Sunday.”
Former world champion, Thierry Neuville and his Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT teammate, Adrien Fourmaux have now moved up to 2-3 following their rivals’ woes.
Another Hyundai of Esapekka Lappi is fourth ahead of Toyota’s Sami Pajari in fifth. After a strong show in the three morning stages, Ford M-Sport Puma pair, Jon Armstrong and Josh McErlean who retired on Friday occupy sixth and seventh.
