WRC, Sportrik Media - Oliver Solberg ended Friday’s running at Safari Rally Kenya 2026 with a narrow one-second advantage over team-mate Sébastien Ogier, after an intense opening full day of competition for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT.
Solberg had initially built a lead of around 30 seconds before suffering a puncture on the second pass of the Geothermal stage. The setback allowed Ogier to close the gap dramatically, reducing the margin to just one second heading into the final stages of the day. Ogier briefly gained three tenths of a second on Lolida 2, before Solberg matched the time again on the final test of the day.
“I tried my best. I’m up to speed now, but it was really, really slippery in that last stage,” Solberg said.
“It wasn’t easy at all.”
The Swedish driver also acknowledged the intensity of the battle at the front with Ogier, noting that the experienced Frenchman had delivered an impressive performance throughout Friday’s stages.
“I’ve had a fight with him before. It’s 1-0,” Solberg added.
“But he had an incredible day, really impressive. I tried to be smart and do my own thing, but maybe I was a bit too careful and then had bad luck with the puncture.”
Ogier, meanwhile, expressed satisfaction with ending the day just one second behind the rally leader. The eight-time world champion suggested that starting Saturday in second position could prove strategically beneficial given the unpredictable conditions often seen in Safari Rally.
“It’s been a good day. I’m happy with that for sure,” Ogier said.
“Actually, it’s better not to be in the lead tonight. We know that on Saturday it often rains in the afternoon, and the drivers further back can struggle more.”
Championship leader Elfyn Evans heads into Saturday around 20 seconds off the lead after experiencing brake issues earlier in the rally. The Welsh driver struggled to find the optimal balance with his Toyota throughout Friday’s stages.
Behind him, Sami Pajari delivered one of the most impressive performances of the day. The Finnish driver set the fastest time on four of the seven stages and finished second fastest on two others, placing him fourth overall.
Toyota’s early dominance had seen the manufacturer occupy the top five positions before Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT drivers Thierry Neuville and Adrien Fourmaux moved ahead of Takamoto Katsuta during the penultimate stage.
Katsuta’s rally was compromised by a double front puncture earlier in the afternoon, forcing him to adopt a more cautious approach for the remainder of the day.
With rain forecast for Saturday’s stages north of Nakuru, the Safari Rally Kenya is expected to become even more demanding. Iconic tests such as Sleeping Warrior could significantly reshape the overall classification as the rally enters its decisive phase.
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