WRC, Sportrik Media - Takamoto Katsuta will lead the Safari Rally Kenya 2026 into its final day after the cancellation of SS16 Sleeping Warrior 2 on Saturday afternoon. The Toyota Gazoo Racing driver moved to the top of the classification following a dramatic sequence of retirements that reshaped the rally standings.
Katsuta inherited the lead after three of his Toyota team-mates—Oliver Solberg, Sebastien Ogier, and Elfyn Evans—were eliminated during the first pass of the Sleeping Warrior stage or on the road section that followed. The series of incidents dramatically altered the rally order during Saturday’s demanding morning loop.
As crews prepared to tackle Sleeping Warrior for the second time on SS16, organisers decided to cancel the stage due to the extreme conditions. The deteriorating road surface and worsening mud made it difficult for rescue vehicles to access the stage in the event of an emergency, prompting officials to halt the run for safety reasons.
With the cancellation confirmed, Katsuta heads into the final day with a lead of around one minute and only four stages remaining. The Japanese driver now stands within reach of what would be his first victory in the World Rally Championship.
“It’s very stressful to drive like this,” Katsuta said.
“It’s definitely easier when you are fighting for tenths of seconds.”
Katsuta also managed to extend his advantage by 18 seconds over Adrien Fourmaux of Hyundai Motorsport on SS15. Fourmaux opted for a more cautious approach, focusing on preserving the car by limiting the amount of mud entering the cooling systems at the front of the Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
“The car has already been racing for three days,” Fourmaux explained.
“We need to take care of it.”
Hyundai made extensive overnight adjustments to its three i20 N Rally1 cars, including changes to cooling components, transmission, and suspension systems. However, Thierry Neuville suffered three punctures on the Soysambu stage after service, effectively ending his hopes of challenging for the lead.
The setbacks allowed Sami Pajari to move into a provisional podium position after passing the slowing car of Esapekka Lappi, whose Hyundai lost time due to a deflating tire during the Elmenteita stage.
“I’m not thinking about the result,” Pajari said.
“Just moving to the next stage.”
Lappi, meanwhile, indicated his priority was securing manufacturer points for Hyundai rather than engaging in a direct battle for position.
“I don’t care about the result. It doesn’t make sense for me to compete,” he said.
An eventful day also elevated WRC2 leader Robert Virves to fifth overall, holding nearly a one-minute advantage over Gus Greensmith.
With four stages and 57 kilometres remaining on Sunday, the Safari Rally Kenya enters its decisive phase. Several drivers who retired earlier in the event are expected to return under restart regulations to contest the additional points available during Super Sunday.
Baca Juga
Adrien Fourmaux bertahan di Safari Rally Kenya 2026 setelah Hyundai memasang kompresor dan jet-wash untuk mengatasi overheating mobil i20 N Rally1.
Takamoto Katsuta memimpin Safari Rally Kenya 2026 setelah pembatalan stage SS16 Sleeping Warrior 2 menjelang hari terakhir reli.
Elfyn Evans menjelaskan kerusakan suspensi belakang yang menyebabkan retire di Safari Rally Kenya 2026.
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