WRC, Sportrik Media - Andrew Wheatley, sporting director of Hyundai Motorsport, believes the most demanding phase of the Safari Rally Kenya 2026 is still to come despite the dramatic events of Saturday morning. Worsening road conditions and the possibility of afternoon rain are expected to further complicate the rally for all teams.
The morning loop already produced significant disruption to the classification, with multiple crews encountering mechanical and technical issues across the field. Amid the challenging conditions, Hyundai drivers Thierry Neuville, Adrien Fourmaux, and Esapekka Lappi currently occupy second, third, and fourth positions overall.
However, Wheatley emphasised that the rally has yet to reach its most decisive stages. After the first pass of cars, the surfaces have become significantly rougher with deeper ruts forming along the stages. If rainfall arrives as forecast, those conditions could deteriorate even further during the afternoon loop.
“I think this is classic Kenya,” Wheatley said.
“And we haven’t done the hard loop yet. We still have the hard loop to come.”
According to Wheatley, Hyundai originally expected the stages following midday service to become the pivotal moment of the rally. Instead, the severity of the morning stages already exceeded the team’s initial expectations.
In addition to the difficult terrain, Hyundai has also been managing technical concerns with its i20 N Rally1 cars. All three entries experienced overheating issues caused by mud accumulation in the radiator area, although Wheatley noted the situation is not identical to the problem encountered earlier in the rally at Camp Moran.
“It’s very similar. The result is the same – the radiator has a lot of mud stuck in it because of the high temperatures under the bonnet,” he explained.
The combination of high engine temperatures, heavy mud, and rough terrain has placed considerable strain on the drivetrain systems of the cars. When mud blocks airflow through the radiator and cooling ducts, it limits cooling efficiency and raises the risk of overheating during long stages.
Despite these issues, Hyundai remains confident it can make adjustments to its cars. The team has already implemented changes overnight and plans to introduce additional modifications ahead of the afternoon stages.
“These are not conditions that you can replicate in Europe easily,” Wheatley added.
“That’s why all of the competitors are having this kind of problem.”
With road conditions continuing to deteriorate and weather conditions potentially shifting, the Safari Rally Kenya once again underlines its reputation as one of the most mechanically demanding events on the World Rally Championship calendar. The afternoon loop and the upcoming Super Sunday stages are expected to play a decisive role in determining the final outcome of the rally.
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