By Mulembe Times | March 2026
Japan’s Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston delivered a career-defining moment on Sunday, clinching their first-ever World Rally Championship (WRC) victory at the iconic Safari Rally Kenya.
The triumph came on Katsuta’s 94th WRC start, ending a 34-year drought for Japanese drivers since Kenjiro Shinozuka won the Ivory Coast Rally. The victory was especially meaningful as it took place at the very event where Katsuta achieved his first WRC podium in 2021.
Chaos on the Kenyan Stages Opens Door for Victory
Driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, Katsuta capitalised on a weekend of attrition that saw several pre-race favourites fall victim to the punishing Safari terrain.
The rally’s defining moment came on Saturday morning during the treacherous Sleeping Warrior stage and the following road section. Championship leader Elfyn Evans retired with suspension damage after hitting trouble mid-stage. Soon after, rally leader Oliver Solberg dropped out due to clutch problems, while eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier was sidelined by an electrical issue.
These unexpected retirements vaulted Katsuta into the lead heading into Sunday, giving him a comfortable advantage over the rest of the field.
Tactical Driving Secures Historic Win
On the final day, Katsuta focused on navigating the rough and technical Oserengoni and Hell’s Gate stages safely rather than pushing for individual stage wins. His measured approach paid off as he crossed the finish line 27.4 seconds ahead of the competition.
An emotional Katsuta thanked his team and co-driver for their support after several challenging WRC seasons.
Kenyan President William Ruto was present at the finish, personally handing Katsuta the winner’s trophy.
Podium and Other Notable Performances
- Adrien Fourmaux secured second place for Hyundai Motorsport with a steady performance.
- Young Finnish driver Sami Pajari finished third overall despite suffering a high-speed tyre failure on Saturday.
- Esapekka Lappi ended the rally in fourth after battling understeer and punctures.
In the WRC2 category, Robert Virves impressed by winning the class and finishing fifth overall in his Škoda Fabia RS Rally2.
Despite retiring earlier, Solberg, Ogier, and Evans returned under WRC restart rules to compete for bonus points. Solberg claimed the final Wolf Power Stage win, finishing 2.8 seconds ahead of Ogier.
Championship leader Evans remains at the top of the WRC standings with 66 points.
The 2026 WRC season now moves to Croatia Rally from April 9–12 as teams switch from gravel to asphalt stages.
