Toyota's Takamoto Katsuta Wins 2026 WRC Safari Rally, Makes History

Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota Gazoo Racing has been crowned champion of the Safari Rally 2026, securing his first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) victory and a historic milestone in his career.

The Japanese driver carried Toyota’s title hopes into the final day after leading the charge on Saturday, March 14, a dramatic leg that saw three of his teammates drop out due to mechanical problems, including former champions Elfyn Evans and Sébastien Ogier.

Rally leader Oliver Solberg also withdrew on the same day after encountering a similar issue.

Despite the chaos, Katsuta — a driver who has built a strong following among Kenyan fans since the rally’s return in 2021 — kept his cool throughout Saturday, ending the penultimate leg with a commanding 1 minute 25.5 seconds lead ahead of the final day.

Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota Gazoo Racing speaking to the media at the 2026 WRC Safari Rally. /WORLD RALLY CHAMPIONSHIP

On Sunday, March 15, he faced intense pressure from Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai Motorsport, particularly during SS18, where the two drivers were separated by just a single second.

However, Katsuta held firm over the final two stages, maintaining his pace and composure to secure victory, clinching the title in the third round of the championship and marking the sixth and final edition of Safari Rally Kenya under the current hosting agreement.

The turning point in the leaderboard came on Saturday when rally leader Solberg and Ogier retired while travelling to the mid-leg service. Both drivers had successfully navigated the punishing Sleeping Warrior stage, one of the toughest sections of the rally, but mechanical problems struck before they could reach the Naivasha Service Park.

Solberg’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 developed electrical and transmission issues during the liaison section, while Ogier was forced to stop after an alternator failure abruptly ended his charge. Their exits compounded an already difficult morning for Toyota. Earlier in the same stage, championship leader Evans had also retired while running second overall after suffering rear-right suspension damage.

Within the span of a single stage and the return trip to service, Toyota’s commanding 1-2-3 grip on the rally was wiped out.

The 31-kilometre Sleeping Warrior test proved brutal. Solberg completed the stage with almost no visibility after running out of windscreen washer fluid in thick mud, while Ogier pushed hard to set the fastest time and significantly reduce the gap to the rally lead.

According to Toyota’s Deputy Team Principal Juha Kankkunen, the heavy mud played a key role in the mechanical failures.

“The last stage was quite muddy and tough, and the mud went into the engine side and broke the alternators for both cars,” he explained as quoted by the World Rally Championship. “Oliver also had a transmission problem, and Elfyn we already knew about. It hasn’t been the best morning.”

Kankkunen added that the sticky mud typical of the Safari Rally can trigger serious mechanical problems. “Water is not that bad, but stiff mud sticks everywhere, and that can cause problems. It went into the alternator and broke the pulley, and everything got stuck.”

With the Toyota trio suddenly out of contention, Katsuta inherited the rally lead. The Japanese driver had adopted a cautious strategy earlier in the day after punctures left him without a spare tyre.

“It is super muddy and tricky, and we have no spare, so I completely backed off,” Katsuta said after completing the stage. “It is better to stay in the game because anything can happen in the afternoon.”

His prediction quickly proved accurate. Katsuta carried the lead into Sunday with a commanding 1 minute 25.5 seconds advantage and faced intense pressure from Adrien Fourmaux and Thierry Neuville of Hyundai Motorsport.

The battle peaked during SS18, where Katsuta and Fourmaux were separated by just a second. However, the Japanese driver held his nerve through the final two stages, maintaining his momentum to seal a historic victory.