The third day of the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya delivered early drama after Toyota Gazoo Racing saw three of its top drivers fall out of contention during the morning loop, dramatically reshaping the battle for victory in one of the toughest rounds of the World Rally Championship.

Rally leader Oliver Solberg, defending champion Elfyn Evans and nine-time world champion Sébastien Ogier were all forced to retire from the day’s action following mechanical setbacks. Their exits dealt a heavy blow to Toyota’s dominance after the team had controlled much of the rally since Thursday.

Solberg had looked firmly in charge of the event, holding the overall lead with a cumulative time of 2:13:23.1, while Ogier sat second just over forty seconds behind. However, the unforgiving Kenyan terrain once again proved why the Safari Rally remains one of the most unpredictable events on the calendar.

With the three front runners sidelined, Takamoto Katsuta has emerged as Toyota’s leading contender. The Japanese driver now sits third overall with a total time of 2:14:56.7, keeping the manufacturer’s hopes alive heading into the decisive final stages.

Hyundai Motorsport, meanwhile, has quietly positioned itself to capitalize on Toyota’s troubles. Thierry Neuville currently holds fourth place with a time of 2:16:04.2, narrowly ahead of teammate Adrien Fourmaux, who trails by less than a second. Esapekka Lappi completes the Hyundai trio in sixth place as the team eyes a late push up the leaderboard.

Toyota youngster Sami Pajari also endured a frustrating morning despite showing impressive pace earlier in the rally. The young Finn, who had impressed on day two with four stage victories, slipped down the standings after suffering two punctures, dropping to seventh overall.

Toyota team deputy principal Juha Kankkunen confirmed the extent of the setbacks, explaining that Evans’ rally unraveled after striking a hidden rock that damaged the rear right wheel. Both Solberg and Ogier were later hit by alternator failures that prevented them from reaching the service park despite completing their stages.

Despite the triple setback, Kankkunen remains optimistic that Toyota can still salvage valuable championship points when the rally heads into Super Sunday. With bonus points available on the final day, the team is hopeful that repaired cars and an aggressive approach could still yield a strong finish.

Earlier in the morning loop, Solberg had underlined his dominance by setting the fastest time at Soysambu, while Ogier responded with impressive pace at Elementaita and Sleeping Warrior. Yet in typical Safari fashion, early speed proved no guarantee of survival as mechanical issues reshaped the rally within a matter of stages.