The FIA World Rally Championship shifts from the frozen snowbanks of Sweden to the sweltering savannahs of East Africa next week for the 2026 Safari Rally Kenya. As the third round of the season, the event remains the most grueling test of man and machine on the global calendar, and for the Motorsport Ireland Rally Academy crews, it represents a massive hurdle in their Rally1 campaigns.
Based around Lake Naivasha, the 2026 route has seen significant revisions but retains the core elements that make the Safari legendary: the “fesh-fesh” sand, high-speed plains, and unpredictable thunderstorms that can turn dry tracks into impassable rivers in seconds.
The Technical Challenge
To survive the 1,217km journey, the M-Sport Ford World Rally Team has outfitted the Puma Rally1 cars with specialized heavy-duty equipment. Fans will see the return of the iconic “snorkel” air-intake systems to prevent engine damage in deep sand and water, alongside increased ride-heights and reinforced front grilles to handle the punishing terrain.
McErlean Aims for Consistency
Josh McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy arrive in Kenya with the wind in their sails following a strong ninth-place finish in Sweden. Having tackled the Safari in 2025, where they secured a top-ten finish, McErlean is leaning on that experience to navigate the 2026 marathon.
“Safari Rally is one of the toughest events of the year,” said McErlean. “The focus is on being smart, looking after the car and putting together a consistent performance. If we do that, we can come away with a really positive result.”
Armstrong’s African Debut
On the other side of the M-Sport garage, Jon Armstrong and Shane Byrne face a steep learning curve as they make their Safari Rally debuts. After an impressive eighth-place finish in Sweden, Armstrong has spent time at M-Sport’s Dovenby Hall headquarters to prepare for the technical demands of the Puma in gravel trim.
“Kenya will be a unique challenge for me and Shane,” Armstrong noted. “As it’s our first time there, it will be a lot to discover. It’s not going to be easy, but we will give it our best shot and focus on keeping it as clean as we can.”
Event at a Glance
- Dates: 12-15 March 2026
- Stages: 20 competitive tests
- Total Distance: 1,217.64 km
- Surface: Rough Gravel / Sand
The action kicks off on Thursday with the Shakedown, followed by the Super Special stage in Nairobi. With the championship wide open and the Safari known for its high attrition rate, the Irish crews will be prioritizing survival as much as speed.
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