- The 2026 Safari Rally ends on Sunday, ending a six-year deal to return it to the World Rally Championship (WRC) calendar.
- Toyota Gazoo’s Takamoto Katsuta leads the standings ahead of day four after his sudden retirement on Saturday
- WRC broadcaster Simon Larkin has discussed the renewal talks and what they will be looking at to revive the program after 2026
The 2026 Safari Rally will end on Sunday amid growing concern over whether the event will be renewed for years to come.
Source: Twitter
Top drivers have entered the punishing stages of Naivasha since 2021. The event was returned to the world calendar after a 19-year hiatus, and has not disappointed since.
Fans have continued to flock to Naivasha to watch the World Rally Championship (WRC) event year after year, encouraging local tourism. For drivers, it’s an event they’ve been dreading and relishing in equal measure, with the Safari Rally considered the toughest stop on the calendar.
Will WRC’s Safari Rally contract be renewed?
But in the midst of this, the government is ready for key talks with the WRC broadcaster about renewing its contract with the WRC as the original six-year deal nears its end. The government has already expressed its desire to renew the contract with the President William Rutowho is expected to meet the WRC team on Sunday.
A decision is not expected immediately but in the coming weeks. Among the issues to be discussed is the entry of more private investment in Safari Rally.
After almost single-handedly funding the conference for the past five years, the government this year opened the door to more private investment, a trend both sides want to continue.
“The president knows this and shares this view: if this transition had not already started, we would not have returned because, in my opinion, the government does not have the capacity to organize such events,” said Simon Larkin, Director General of Events of WRC Promoter GmbH to Autohebdof 1.
Drivers criticize risky decisions in Safari Rally
Apart from funding, another question, and perhaps more important, will be whether the event is still suitable for modern cars. Much has always been said about the rocky terrain in Naivasha, but the number of accidents and retirements witnessed this year alone has led to strong reactions from drivers.
“Actually, the organizer and the FIA, what they did here at the end is unacceptable. There are rocks everywhere; it’s dangerous. And they talk about safety, this is dangerous,” said Oliver Solberg, who before his retirement in SS12, was the leader of the race.
Source: Twitter
Elfyn Evans, who won the Safari Rally last year, added,
“It’s a joke. They put all these things in the finish to prevent us from cutting, after the recce, and now the stones are everywhere. I just picked a line and punctured twice. It’s nonsense. They are completely out of order.”
Larkin revealed that they are in talks with other African countries to add another African stop to the WRC calendar, but nothing will be ready by 2027.
“We want to continue with Kenya because the event has brought as much to the WRC as the WRC has brought to the country, but this must be done by an organization similar to this year’s, with government support and private partners providing exclusive funding for the meeting for the past five years, the government this year opened the door for more private investment,” said Larkin.
How much do WRC drivers earn?
In a separate report, we explained how much WRC drivers are earning amid ongoing action in Naivasha.
Drivers compete in various countries, with the Safari Rally being the only center to do so in Africa.
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