BY FRANK KAHEESI – NAIVASHA, KENYA

Time check: 08:00 prompt, and the 2026 WRC Safari Rally gets under way with the shakedown at the new Nawisa stage, where Ugandan rally fans have filled the gazetted spectator zones.

First on the start line is Toyota’s Elfyn Evans as car No. 1, followed by teammates Oliver Solberg and Takamoto Katsuta in second and third place.

The 6.31 km stage is characterised by tight bends, wildlife in the vicinity, and a panoramic view of sprawling Naivasha town. It offers a tricky, fast and quickly varying road surface—a full-throttle test for finely tuned rally machines.

Ugandan fans who travelled hundreds of kilometres to watch the Safari Rally’s first complaint was the change of shakedown stage from the long-view opening at Loladia to a place they say is restrictive for spectators.

“We have been restricted on viewing space the car gets out of sight quickly before snaking into the uphill run,” said a Ugandan fan who preferred anonymity.