×
App Icon
The Standard e-Paper
Informed Minds Prefer The Standard
★★★★ - on Play Store
Download Now

WRC Safari Rally 2026: Neuville tops shakedown as drivers warn of brutal race

Vocalize Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Vocalize

Belgian driver Thierry Neuville and his co‑driver Martijn Wydaeghe splash through a muddy section at the Nawisa shakedown stage during the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2026 in Naivasha. ‎[Kipsang Joseph, Standard].

Thierry Neuville set the pace on Safari Rally Kenya’s new shakedown stage as heavy pre-event rain raised fears of an especially punishing third round of the 2026 World Rally Championship.

Neuville finished the session quickest, 1.8 seconds clear of Toyota’s Oliver Solberg, with Sami Pajari just 0.4s further back and championship leader Elfyn Evans slotting into fourth.

Premium Article

Get Full Access for Ksh299/Week.

Bold Reporting Takes Time, Courage and Investment. Stand With Us.
Continue Reading  →
What you get
  • Unlimited access to all premium content
  • Ad-free browsing experience
  • Mobile-optimised reading
  • Weekly newsletters & digests
Pay via
M - PESA
VISA
Airtel Money
Secure Payments Kenya's most trusted newsroom since 1902
By AFP 6 hrs ago
Football
'Lost his Tuch?' England boss hammered by media after World Cup exit
By AFP 6 hrs ago
Football
Tuchel defends tactics after England World Cup dream dies
By AFP 19 hrs ago
Football
Messi's Argentina stun England in comeback to reach World Cup final
By Mike Kihaki 21 hrs ago
Sports
Ruto pledges to support young talents