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Oliver Solberg surges ahead in Safari Rally Kenya: a dramatic lead in chaos

James Taylor by James Taylor
March 12, 2026
in Motorsports, WRC
Reading Time: 2 mins read
0

Oliver Solberg (SWE) Elliott Edmondson (GBR) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen racing during the World Rally Championship Kenya in Naivasha, Kenya on 12 March, 2026 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool // SI202603120587 // Usage for editorial use only //

Oliver Solberg Storms Ahead in Thrilling Safari Rally Kenya Amid Monsoon Chaos!

In a heart-pounding kickoff to the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya, Oliver Solberg has emerged as the early frontrunner, establishing a staggering 30-second lead after just a single stage. The dramatic start was marred by relentless downpours that transformed the Camp Moran test into a treacherous battleground, forcing competitors to grapple with survival.

As the rain lashed the stage, it was Solberg, driving his GR Yaris, who seized the moment, leaving his Toyota teammate Elfyn Evans in his wake. Evans, who was the first to tackle the stage, expressed frustration at the visibility challenges, ultimately finishing 30 seconds behind Solberg. The conditions proved to be an unforgiving test, with other competitors faltering and falling over a minute behind the leader.

Sébastien Ogier, starting sixth on the road, managed to clinch third place, finishing 1 minute and 9.3 seconds off the pace. Takamoto Katsuta rounded out the top four despite a chaotic experience; he battled through the stage without intercom communication with his co-driver, Aaron Johnston. An irate Katsuta vented his frustration, stating, “Before the start we just lost the connection with Aaron. Whole way through without pacenotes, f***ing hell! This is stupid, I don’t want to stay here anymore.”

Toyota's dominance was evident as they achieved a remarkable top-five lockout early in the rally. However, Hyundai's Thierry Neuville was hot on their heels, just 3.1 seconds adrift of the leaders. Neuville tackled the challenging conditions with a pragmatic approach, quipping, “We needed a boat in there! I took it carefully. You don’t know where it’s slippery, what’s on the braking, and nothing is working. Everything is so cold so super difficult. The rally is very long, anything can happen. We lost two minutes which wasn’t great, but in these conditions the road is very long.”

Adding to the drama, Neuville's teammate, Adrien Fourmaux, was positioned another 4.1 seconds behind, while M-Sport’s Jon Armstrong trailed him by 4.8 seconds in eighth place. Meanwhile, Josh McErlean struggled significantly, clocking over a minute slower than Armstrong and trailing by an astonishing 3 minutes and 57.1 seconds from the lead. Esapekka Lappi also faced challenges, settling into ninth, a staggering 2 minutes and 40.8 seconds off the blistering pace set by Solberg.

As the Safari Rally kicks into high gear, the stage is set for an electrifying showdown. With heavy rain wreaking havoc and competitors battling both the elements and each other, every second counts. The unpredictability of the rally promises fans an exhilarating ride ahead!

Tags: Elfyn EvansHyundaiMotoGPOliver SolbergRali Safari Quéniasebastien-ogier-2Toyota
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