WRC, Sportrik Media - Thierry Neuville led the challenge for Hyundai Shell Mobis WRT after Friday’s stages of Safari Rally Kenya 2026, as Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT occupied the top four positions in the overall classification heading into Saturday’s running.
Behind Neuville in fifth place were team-mates Adrien Fourmaux in sixth and Esapekka Lappi in eighth. Although Hyundai has yet to match Toyota’s outright pace, the team significantly reduced the time gap to the rally leaders compared to the opening day.
Hyundai sporting director Andrew Wheatley expressed satisfaction with the progress made during Friday’s stages, noting that the overall deficit had been reduced considerably.
“We didn’t set any fastest times, but on Thursday we were two minutes and 30 seconds behind the leader at the end of the day. Now the gap is around one minute and 40 seconds,” Wheatley said.
“This is actually much closer to what we expected from this competition. Thursday was a bit of a surprise for us.”
According to Wheatley, Hyundai’s main challenge during the Safari Rally has been related to chassis grip, particularly in extremely slippery conditions. When the car finds sufficient grip, its performance is competitive against the leading teams.
“When we have good grip, the car works very well. It’s fast and performs as it should,” Wheatley explained.
“The challenge appears when we are driving on very slippery surfaces.”
He also referenced the opening rallies of the FIA World Rally Championship season, which have presented low-grip conditions across different surfaces. From the icy stages of Rallye Monte Carlo to the snow-covered roads of Rally Sweden, and now the muddy and slippery terrain of Safari Rally Kenya.
Wheatley praised the consistency of Hyundai’s drivers, particularly Neuville, who has maintained a controlled pace throughout the rally.
“Thierry showed again why he is a world champion. He managed his speed very well,” Wheatley said.
The performance of Fourmaux also impressed the team management after he significantly reduced his time deficit to the rally leaders over the course of the day.
“Adrien was two minutes behind the leader on Thursday and it became two minutes and 40 seconds by the end of the day. Now the gap is around one minute and 37 seconds, which is a huge improvement,” Wheatley added.
Looking ahead to the remaining stages, Hyundai intends to maintain a controlled approach with a carefully managed risk level. The team plans to continue running at approximately 95 to 96 percent pace while allowing the leading drivers to fight for seconds.
“We will continue at around 95–96 percent pace. We will let the front runners fight for every second because tomorrow there will almost certainly be more problems and challenges,” Wheatley said.
With rain forecast for the next stages, conditions at Safari Rally Kenya could quickly become more demanding. Hyundai therefore plans to prioritise consistency and reliability as the rally progresses, knowing that the classification can change rapidly in the unpredictable African event.
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