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Oliver Solberg clings to lead as Sebastien Ogier launches dramatic comeback at Safari Rally Kenya

Arthur Ling by Arthur Ling
March 13, 2026
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 3 mins read
0

Oliver Solberg (SWE) and Elliott Edmondson (GBR) of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen racing during Stop 3 of the FIA World Rally Championship in Naivasha, Kenya on March 12, 2026. // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603120560 // Usage for editorial use only //

Solberg Stuns at Safari Rally Kenya While Ogier Rises from the Ashes!

In an electrifying twist at the Safari Rally Kenya, Oliver Solberg clings to his lead as the legendary Sébastien Ogier ignites a fierce comeback that has fans on the edge of their seats! As Friday dawned, Solberg maintained a commanding 33.3-second lead over his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans, and an astonishing margin of over a minute against reigning world champion Ogier. But as the dust settled at the end of the morning loop, that lead was sliced to a mere 28.8 seconds, with Ogier hot on his heels, trailing by just 38.2 seconds!

Heavy rain overnight wreaked havoc, forcing organizers to cancel the first stage of the day due to treacherous road conditions, leaving some sections completely impassable for technical and medical crews. However, as the sun broke through the clouds, the action resumed, and drivers faced dry stages that promised thrilling competition.

Ogier, eager to make up for lost time after a frustrating delay due to Thursday’s rain, exploded onto the scene with a blazing performance in stage four, clinching victory in that test with a time 2.5 seconds faster than Sami Pajari. In a stunning display of speed, Ogier’s time was a whopping 16.2 seconds faster than Solberg, who narrowly overshot a corner that cost him valuable seconds. Evans struggled with a brake issue on his GR Yaris, leading to a visibly frustrated performance that saw him fall further behind.

But it wasn’t all smooth sailing for Ogier, who faced a front-right puncture during stage six, yet still managed to close the gap to Evans, narrowing the difference between them to just 9.4 seconds. “I tried to be careful, but it’s a pure lottery here. We will see which conditions we have [this afternoon], but it looks like the rain is coming again,” Ogier remarked, embodying the unpredictable nature of the rally.

Solberg, emerging from the loop, recorded a time just 0.1 seconds quicker than Ogier and a commendable 1.6 seconds faster than Evans, who had reduced the gap to the lead to 27.2 seconds just before the final stage. “I was way too careful this morning with the rocks. I just want to keep it clean and as long as I keep around where Evans is, then I'm happy, but Ogier is very quick,” Solberg reflected, showcasing a blend of strategy and caution amidst the chaos. “There is so much cleaning behind. It has been a decent morning and I'm just trying to enjoy, learn, and not have any punctures.”

Meanwhile, Evans expressed his frustrations, stating, “The first one was a bit frustrating and I was managing a bit of an issue there but we managed to sort it after. It is just about how brave you want to be on things that will break the car.”

Toyota's dominance continued as they locked out the top five positions, with Takamoto Katsuta holding down fourth place, over a minute behind the leader, while Pajari showcased impressive skills to remain competitive.

On the other hand, Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville struggled to keep pace, lagging in sixth place, 43.4 seconds behind Pajari. Neuville faced his own challenges, stalling his engine in stage four and suffering a left-rear puncture in stage five. “It feels very slow, there is no power and compared to previous years it is much worse,” he lamented, as he battled to adapt his driving style to the rally’s demands.

Despite earlier overheating issues that had plagued Hyundai's crews, today’s race saw Adrien Fourmaux surge to seventh overall, while M-Sport-Ford's Jon Armstrong followed closely behind. However, Esapekka Lappi faced difficulties with speed in ninth position, and Gus Greensmith held firm in tenth, leading the WRC2 category.

As the competition heats up, with unpredictable weather looming, the stage is set for an exhilarating showdown. Can Solberg maintain his lead, or will Ogier's relentless pursuit pay off? The excitement continues to build as the Safari Rally Kenya unfolds, promising more twists and turns in this high-octane battle!

Tags: Elfyn EvansHyundaim-sport-ford-2MotoGPOliver SolbergRali Safari Quéniasebastien-ogier-2Toyota
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