The fabled Safari Rally Kenya enters a new era in 2026, trading the urban buzz of the capital for a concentrated, high-intensity challenge based exclusively in the Great Rift Valley.
Marking the third round of the season from March 12 – 15, the 2026 edition drops its traditional Nairobi start to focus entirely on the unforgiving terrain surrounding Lake Naivasha. It remains the ultimate test of survival in the WRC, where the wildlife is as unpredictable as the weather. With a refined schedule that packs 20 special stages into four days, the 2026 Safari demands maximum commitment from the very first kilometre.
From the brutal "fesh-fesh" sand of Kedong to the high-speed savannah of Sleeping Warrior, this is where the WRC’s toughest machines are pushed to their absolute breaking point.
Key Facts
DATE
20 - 23 MARCH 2025
Servicepark
Naivasha, Kenya
Entry list
TBC
Itinerary / Stages
TBC
Website
Hashtag
#SafariRallyKenya
Watch the rally
About the Rally
Previous Winners
Year
Driver
Co-Driver
Car
2025
Elfyn Evans
Scott Martin
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2024
Kalle Rovanperä
Jonne Halttunen
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2023
Sébastien Ogier
Vincent Landais
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2022
Kalle Rovanperä
Jonne Halttunen
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
2021
Sébastien Ogier
Julien Ingrassia
Toyota Yaris WRC
2002
Colin McRae
Nicky Grist
Ford Focus RS WRC 02
2001
Tommi Mäkinen
Risto Mannisenmäki
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 6.5
2000
Richard Burns
Robert Reid
Subaru Impreza WRC00
1999
Colin McRae
Nicky Grist
Ford Focus WRC
1998
Richard Burns
Robert Reid
Mitsubishi Carisma GT Evolution IV
1997
Colin McRae
Nicky Grist
Subaru Impreza WRC97
1996
Tommi Mäkinen
Seppo Harjanne
Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III
1994
Ian Duncan
David Williamson
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1993
Juha Kankkunen
Juha Piironen
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1992
Carlos Sainz
Luis Moya
Toyota Celica Turbo 4WD
1991
Juha Kankkunen
Juha Piironen
Lancia Delta HF Integrale 16v
1990
Björn Waldegård
Fred Gallagher
Toyota Celica GT-Four ST165
1989
Miki Biasion
Tiziano Siviero
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1988
Miki Biasion
Tiziano Siviero
Lancia Delta HF Integrale
1987
Hannu Mikkola
Arne Hertz
Audi 200 Quattro
1986
Björn Waldegård
Fred Gallagher
Toyota Celica TCT
1985
Juha Kankkunen
Fred Gallagher
Toyota Celica TCT
1984
Björn Waldegård
Hans Thorszelius
Toyota Celica TCT
1983
Ari Vatanen
Terry Harryman
Opel Ascona 400
1982
Shekhar Mehta
Mike Doughty
Nissan Violet GT
1981
Shekhar Mehta
Mike Doughty
Nissan Violet GT
1980
Shekhar Mehta
Mike Doughty
Datsun 160J
1979
Shekhar Mehta
Mike Doughty
Datsun 160J
1978
Jean-Pierre Nicolas
Jean-Claude Lefèbvre
Peugeot 504 V6 Coupé
1977
Björn Waldegård
Hans Thorszelius
Ford Escort RS1800
1976
Joginder Singh
David Doig
Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR
1975
Ove Andersson
Arne Hertz
Peugeot 504
1974
Joginder Singh
David Doig
Mitsubishi Lancer 1600 GSR
1973
Shekhar Mehta
Lofty Drews
Datsun 240Z
