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

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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.

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