Japanese rally driver Takamoto Katsuta and his co-driver Aaron Johnston clinched victory at the Safari Rally Kenya, which concluded Sunday in Naivasha, delivering an impressive performance behind the wheel of a Toyota Yaris Rally1.
Katsuta secured the win after a dramatic final day that saw several top contenders drop out earlier in the competition. The victory marks a major milestone for the Japanese driver in the demanding African rally.
French driver Adrien Fourmaux finished second, earning Hyundai Shell Mobis World Rally Team its first podium finish of the season. Finland’s Sami Pajari completed the podium in third place after a consistent performance throughout the rally.
Despite the win, Katsuta remains third in the World Rally Championship standings.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans still tops the table despite retiring on Saturday, maintaining an eight-point lead over Sweden’s Oliver Solberg. Katsuta is now just three points behind Solberg, while Fourmaux sits 19 points off the championship lead.
In the WRC2 category, Estonia’s Robert Virves claimed victory, finishing 30.3 seconds ahead of Britain’s Gus Greensmith. Paraguay’s Fabrizio Zaldivar secured third place, while Norway’s Andreas Mikkelsen finished just outside the podium.
During the final Safari Rally ceremony, President William Ruto joined officials from the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile to award Katsuta and Johnston for their victory.
Ruto also announced a major shift in the future of the Safari Rally, revealing that the Kenyan government will stop promoting the iconic event starting next year. Instead, the rally will transition fully to private sector promotion and funding.
The move follows an agreement between the Ministry of Sports and private sector partners to take a leading role in organizing the global motorsport event, signaling a new era for the Safari Rally as Kenya seeks to sustain its place on the international rally calendar.