Safari Rally faces race against time to secure WRC future

Safari Rally Kenya is facing a race against time to secure its place on the World Rally Championship calendar with uncertainty over future funding threatening the event’s position in the global series.

The Naivasha-based rally has rebuilt its reputation since returning to the WRC in 2021 after a 19-year absence. Its demanding gravel stages, unpredictable conditions and spectacular setting have made it one of the most distinctive rounds on the championship calendar.

The funding question has, however, emerged as a major obstacle to securing its future, with Kenya now expected to find private-sector backing after the government announced that public funding for the event would end.

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President William Ruto announced the change in funding policy in March, saying the 2026 edition would be the final Safari Rally supported by public money.

“This is the last Safari Rally where we will be spending public money to promote [the event]. From next year, this event will be fully funded and supported by the private sector,” as per DirtFish.

“The resources we have as a government will now be used to promote sports in our schools and other spheres.”

Ruto’s remarks set in motion a search for private investors and sponsors capable of taking over the financial responsibility of staging the WRC event. Sources in Kenya have confirmed that those efforts are continuing, but the timeline is becoming increasingly tight.

According to DirtFish, the funding issue surrounding Kenya is currently the only outstanding matter holding up the announcement of next season’s WRC calendar.

That places the Safari Rally in a delicate position. The event enjoys strong support from the FIA and has become an important part of the WRC’s global identity since its return, but organisers must now provide certainty over its financial arrangements before its position can be secured.

FIA Remains Supportive of Safari Rally Kenya

The FIA has made it clear that it recognises the importance of keeping Kenya on the WRC calendar.

FIA road sport director Emilia Abel said the governing body remains supportive of the event while stressing that Kenya must resolve the outstanding issues surrounding the rally.

“We want to see Kenya on the calendar,” Abel said. “It is a historic and classic event for the WRC, and an important rally particularly from the region’s perspective. Our focus now is on delivering from the [Kenyan] ASN side.”

WRC Promoter COO Julien Vial similarly pointed to the need for certainty before the calendar can be completed.

“We need to finalize the calendar very soon, and in order to do so we need clarity and certainty around the funding of every event. Kenya is one of the most unique and iconic rallies in the championship, but the necessary conditions have to be in place to secure its position on the calendar.”

The pressure is therefore not necessarily about the sporting value of Safari Rally Kenya. Rather, it is about whether the organisers can put together a funding structure capable of supporting the event without relying on public money.

A Historic Return After 19 Years

Safari Rally Kenya has a history that stretches far beyond its modern WRC era.

The event was established in 1953 as the East Africa Safari Rally before eventually becoming known simply as Safari Rally. It joined the World Rally Championship circuit in 1973 and became one of the most demanding events on the international calendar.

Kenya’s rally produced legendary winners over the decades, including Shekhar Mehta, who remains the most successful driver in Safari Rally history with five victories. Björn Waldegård won four times, while Juha Kankkunen and Colin McRae each recorded three victories.

The event disappeared from the WRC calendar after 2002, beginning a 19-year absence from the championship. Its return was finally secured for 2021 after Kenya went through the candidate-event process, marking a major milestone for African motorsport.

The 2021 comeback immediately demonstrated why Safari Rally Kenya had retained its legendary status.

Sébastien Ogier won the event with Julien Ingrassia in a Toyota Yaris WRC, while Takamoto Katsuta finished second and Ott Tänak was third. Ogier’s victory came after Thierry Neuville, who had led for much of the rally, suffered a suspension failure.

The return also introduced a modern version of Safari Rally. While the event retained its rough and demanding character, it was staged on closed roads and followed contemporary WRC safety and organisational standards.

Ogier, Rovanperä and Evans Among Recent Winners

Since its return, Safari Rally Kenya has largely been dominated by Toyota.

Ogier claimed another victory in 2023, this time alongside Vincent Landais, while Kalle Rovanperä won in 2022 and again in 2024 with Jonne Halttunen.

Rovanperä’s 2024 victory was particularly emphatic. The Finn built a huge advantage through the rock-strewn stages around Lake Naivasha before managing his lead through the final stages to win by 1 minute and 37.8 seconds.

The 2025 edition produced another Toyota victory, with Elfyn Evans and Scott Martin taking the honours. Evans controlled the rally after a dramatic opening phase and eventually finished ahead of Hyundai’s Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville.

Those results have reinforced Kenya’s status as a genuine sporting destination rather than simply a nostalgic addition to the WRC calendar.

The rally has also attracted large crowds, with tens of thousands of spectators turning up for the 2025 finish at Hell’s Gate in Naivasha.

What Comes Next for Safari Rally Kenya?

The immediate challenge is now financial.

Kenya must convince private-sector partners that Safari Rally can continue to deliver sufficient commercial, tourism and sporting value to justify the investment required to stage a WRC round.

The event has already demonstrated its ability to attract global attention. Its unique identity, strong local following and spectacular setting give it qualities that few other WRC rounds can match.

But those strengths must now be converted into a sustainable funding model.

Losing Safari Rally Kenya from the WRC calendar would represent more than the removal of another rally from the schedule. It would mark a major setback for an event that has spent years rebuilding its international reputation.

The FIA has indicated that the door remains open. The organisers now face the difficult task of ensuring that the financial conditions are also in place.

After returning to the WRC following a 19-year absence, Safari Rally Kenya has established itself as one of the championship’s most recognisable events. Its next challenge may be its most important yet: proving that the Safari can survive and thrive without government funding.