Local crews expected to play strong role as 2026 WRC Safari Rally fever kicks in
By Joel Masibo, March 11, 2026With the World Rally Championship (WRC) making its return to Kenya for the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya scheduled from March 12 to March 15, competitors in the WRC2 category are bracing for one of the season’s most punishing events.
The rally will stretch across roughly 350 kilometres of harsh gravel sections, and local drivers are once again expected to make a significant impact.
Top contenders
Leading the Kenyan contingent is the reigning African Rally Champion, Karan Patel, who will pilot a Škoda Fabia. He will be joined by seasoned rally legend Carl Tundo, a five-time Safari Rally winner, who returns behind the wheel of a Ford Fiesta R5, bringing years of experience navigating Kenya’s unforgiving rally routes. Adding further local excitement is Junior African Rally Champion Samman Singh Vohra.
According to WRC, among the international contenders, Gus Greensmith stands out as one of the leading favourites. The British driver has enjoyed tremendous success at the Safari Rally in recent years, securing back-to-back WRC2 victories in 2024 and 2025, and now sets his sights on achieving a third consecutive win in Kenya.
Greensmith will, however, tackle this year’s rally with a different car. After spending three seasons driving Škoda’s Fabia RS Rally2, he has moved to the Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for the current campaign with the RaceSeven team. Quickly getting comfortable with the new machine could be critical in a rally that demands both experience and careful car management.
Another strong challenger is Andreas Mikkelsen of Norway. The two-time WRC2 champion makes his return to the category with Toksport WRT, competing in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 after sitting out part of last season. His wealth of experience combined with the Fabia’s reliability on rough gravel stages could make him a serious threat in the Safari Rally.
New generation
The competition is also bolstered by a new generation of talented drivers. Estonia’s Robert Virves begins his 2026 season with Toksport WRT, riding high after claiming his first WRC2 victory on home soil last year. Meanwhile, Romet Jürgenson from M-Sport Ford continues to build his career and will face the Safari Rally challenge for the first time in Rally2 machinery aboard a Ford Fiesta Rally2.
From South America, Diego Dominguez of Paraguay will also contest the full WRC2 season driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2. The 2024 WRC3 champion is no stranger to the Safari Rally, having previously claimed a class win in the 2023 edition, giving him valuable experience on the demanding Kenyan stages.