At a Glance
- Kenya confirms March 12–15 dates and route changes for the 2026 WRC Safari Rally.
- The event marks the final year of Kenya’s current hosting deal with WRC Promoter GmbH.
- Revised format removes ceremonial start, introduces a new shakedown location at Nawisa.
Kenya has released the official itinerary for the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026, setting the stage for another demanding stop on the FIA World Rally Championship calendar.
The event will run from March 12 to March 15, returning crews to the Great Rift Valley and surrounding savannahs that have become synonymous with the modern Safari Rally.
The confirmation comes as teams and sponsors lock in plans for the third round of the 2026 season.
Since rejoining the WRC in 2021, the Safari Rally has earned a reputation as one of the toughest tests in global motorsport, combining rough gravel, extreme heat and long liaison sections that punish both cars and crews.
Next year’s edition carries added weight. It is scheduled to be the final rally under Kenya’s current five-year hosting agreement with WRC Promoter GmbH, signed in Monaco.
Kenyan officials see the event as both a sporting showcase and a statement of the country’s ability to stage complex international events.
Organizers say the rally’s impact stretches beyond the stages. Youth-focused initiatives such as the FIA Rally Star Program have helped Kenyan drivers, including McRae Kimathi and Hamza Anwar, gain exposure abroad.
Conservation efforts, led by the Kenya Wildlife Service and local partners, remain part of the rally’s footprint, with tree-planting and environmental awareness tied to the event.
On the sporting calendar, Safari Rally Kenya remains a key early-season test.
It follows the snow of Sweden and comes ahead of Croatia’s asphalt, often revealing reliability issues and setting the tone for the title fight.
Route changes and revised format
Several adjustments headline the 2026 route. The shakedown moves to Nawisa, inside the Wildlife Research and Training Institute grounds, opposite the main Service Park along the Nairobi–Nakuru highway.
The change allows teams to test and fine-tune cars without remote servicing, easing logistics and improving broadcast flow.
Under updated FIA WRC regulations, the rally drops the ceremonial start and spectator stage in Nairobi.
Competitive action will begin on Thursday morning after a five-kilometer shakedown at Nawisa.
Demanding legs and decisive finale
Friday is expected to be the most punishing day, with 136.55 competitive kilometers across eight stages, including double runs of Loldia, Kengen Geothermal, Kedong and Camp Moran.
Saturday features six stages through Soysambu, Elmenteita and Sleeping Warrior.
Sunday’s finale returns to Hell’s Gate, which will again host the Wolf Power Stage, a likely deciding point for overall standings as the Safari Rally closes another chapter on the WRC calendar.
