Can Hyundai finally wrestle the Safari crown from Toyota?

‎The final day of the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally is poised to deliver tantalising battles as Toyota Gazoo Racing and Hyundai lock horns for supremacy on the world’s toughest terrain.

‎The Safari Rally has already lived up to its reputation as the most punishing leg of the WRC calendar after Saturday’s brutal stages devoured four of the fastest drivers on the planet, forcing them into retirement.

‎‎Toyota suffered a major blow with three of its drivers, nine-time world champion Sebastien Ogier, defending champion Elfyn Evans and early rally leader Oliver Solberg, all bowing out with mechanical gremlins, while Hyundai’s 2024 world champion Thierry Neuville was also forced into retirement.

‎‎Solberg had commanded the Safari lead since day one leading his Toyota teammats, but the dramatic exits left Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta carrying Toyota’s hopes into the final day with a cumulative time of 2:41:00.2.

‎‎He holds a 1 minute 25 second cushion over Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux, who sits second on 2:42:25.7.

‎‎Young Finnish charger Sami Pajari completes the top three with a time of 2:46:29.3.

‎‎Since the Safari Rally returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, no manufacturer has mastered the unforgiving Kenyan terrain quite like Toyota.

‎‎Ogier opened the floodgates in 2021 before handing the baton to Kalle Rovanperä in 2022.

‎The Frenchman reclaimed the crown in 2023, while Rovanpera and Evans continued the dominance in 2024 and 2025 respectively.

‎However, after Saturday’s bruising third day, the prospect of a sixth successive Safari crown for the Japanese manufacturer looks increasingly shaky with Hyundai breathing down their necks heading into the decisive final stages.

‎‎After day three of rally action, second-placed Fourmaux admitted that the Safari remains the most unpredictable rally on the calendar.

‎‎“Safari Rally Kenya is the only place you can lose one minute forty seconds during a stage and still end up on the podium right after."

‎‎“We always say it, but it’s 100 per cent true. The rally is still long and everything can happen,” Fourmaux said.

‎‎Following his retirement, Evans said he will be aiming to salvage valuable championship points on Sunday.

‎‎“We will be back at it tomorrow and ready to fight for some points.”

‎‎Meanwhile, current leader Katsuta reiterated the need for a disciplined and focused run through the closing stages.

‎‎“Anything can happen tomorrow so we need to stay focused.”

‎‎Despite Saturday’s heavy blow and the looming threat of losing the Safari Rally crown, Toyota team deputy principal Juha Kankkunen insisted the team will go flat-out in pursuit of maximum points on Super Sunday.

‎‎“If we can fix the cars tonight, we still have Super Sunday. There are five points available plus another five on the Power Stage, so we will be going for all the 10 points tomorrow,” he said.

‎‎“Our drivers will come back tomorrow and you will see speeds you have never seen before at the Safari Rally.”

‎‎Super Sunday will see crews tackle SS17 Oserengoni 1, SS18 Hell’s Gate 1, a repeat blast through Oserengoni, before the rally reaches its dramatic climax at Hell’s Gate with the all-important Wolf Power Stage.