Oliver Solberg, Sebastien Ogier, & Takamoto Katsuta Bring Fans Back to Africa’s Wild Safari Rally

Motorsport photo Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta has moved into the Safari Rally Kenya lead after Oliver Solberg and Sebastien Ogier were forced to stop on the road section coming back to service. Solberg had navigated through a tricky morning loop of stages with a 42. 6s lead over Ogier, but the Toyota team-mates both ground to a halt on their way back to the midday service.

Both drivers suffered broken alternators likely inflicted by the roughness of the stages. Read Also: WRC Safari Rally Kenya: Elfyn Evans retires as drivers slam “dangerous” decision from rally organisers It proved to be a difficult morning for Toyota as Elfyn Evans was forced to retire from a WRC round for the first time since Greece 2024, with a damaged right-rear suspension. As a result, Katsuta who ended the loop sitting in third, 1m33.

6s behind Solberg, has now vaulted into a 1m07. 5s lead over Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville . Katsuta is now in a prime position to claim his maiden WRC win.

Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux has moved to third, 0. 7s behind Neuville, with team-mate Esapekka Lappi in fourth. “The last stage was quite muddy and rough, and the mud went into the engine side and broke the alternators for both of them [Solberg and Ogier],” said Toyota deputy team principal Juha Kankkunen.