Solberg Leads by a Hair as Toyota Dominates Day Two of Safari Rally

By David Ndolo

Oliver Solberg and co-driver Elliott Edmondson hold a razor-thin lead after Day Two of the Safari Rally Kenya, edging eight-time world champion Sébastien Ogier and co-driver Vincent Landais by just one second in a dramatic contest across the rough Kenyan terrain.

Driving the Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, Solberg clocked a cumulative time of 1:33:50.2, while Ogier finished the day at 1:33:51.2, keeping the pressure firmly on the rally leader as the championship battle intensifies.

Another Toyota crew, and co-driver Scott Martin, sit third overall, 20.5 seconds behind the leaders but still within striking distance as the rally heads into the decisive stages.

The rally so far has been dominated by , which has placed four drivers inside the top five positions, highlighting the strength and reliability of the GR Yaris Rally1 on the demanding Safari Rally stages.

and co-driver Marko Salminen are currently fourth, over a minute behind the leader, while reigning world champion and co-driver Martijn Wydaeghe in the round out the top five.

The battle remains intense further down the standings, with Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux also staying within reach of the leading pack.

In the WRC2 category, and co-driver Jakko Viilo lead the class in a Škoda Fabia RS Rally2, closely followed by and Jonas Andersson in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2.

Known as one of the toughest events on the calendar, the Safari Rally has once again lived up to its reputation. Unpredictable weather, rocky tracks, deep ruts and water crossings around continue to test the endurance of both drivers and machines.

With several stages still remaining, the fight for victory is far from settled. A single mistake, puncture, or mechanical problem could dramatically reshape the leaderboard in what is shaping up to be one of the most competitive editions of the Safari Rally in recent years.