TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team secured a double-podium finish at Safari Rally Kenya, with Takamoto Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston claiming victory in the No. 18 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. The win extends the team’s unbeaten run at the African event to six consecutive victories.
Sami Pajari and Marko Salminen joined Katsuta and Johnston on the podium, finishing third in the No. 5 Toyota GR YARIS Rally1. The result marks Pajari’s second consecutive podium finish and his third in five championship appearances with the team.
Championship Standings After Safari Rally Kenya
Following the season’s fourth round, Toyota leads the manufacturers’ championship by 43 points. Moreover, TGR-WRT drivers continue to occupy the top three positions in the drivers’ standings. The result also marks the team’s 14th triumph for the manufacturer at the iconic African rally, extending its own record.
Katsuta Makes Japanese Motorsport History
Katsuta is now the second Japanese driver to win a WRC round, following Kenjiro Shinozuka’s victories at Rallye Cote d’Ivoire in 1991 and 1992. He is also the second Japanese driver to win the Safari Rally, after Yoshio Fujimoto’s triumph with Toyota in 1995 during the 2-Litre World Rally Cup.
Katsuta arrived at this year’s edition following a strong run at Rally Sweden, where he finished second. He maintained a measured and consistent approach across the demanding Kenyan stages, gradually climbing the order as conditions tested crews and machinery alike.
Race Results and Winning Margin
Katsuta moved into the overall lead as the rally progressed and extended his advantage before managing the final stages carefully. He secured victory by 27.4 seconds alongside co-driver Johnston, completing the event in 3 hours, 16 minutes, and 5.6 seconds.
Pajari and Salminen completed the course in 3 hours, 20 minutes, and 31.7 seconds, finishing 4 minutes and 26.1 seconds behind the winners. After losing time earlier in the rally, the duo responded with strong pace, including a stage victory, to work their way back up the leaderboard.
“I have always hoped that a Japanese rally driver who can win on the world stage would one day become an inspiration for children in Japan. When there is someone to look up to, children and young people strive to surpass them. Kids and youngsters who work hard to surpass Takamoto will raise the level of motorsports in Japan. This victory has become a truly great gift to those young people in Japan. Thank you, Takamoto!”
Akio Toyoda, Chairman, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team
“On the other hand, we put our other crews through a tough rally. We can learn from this experience at the Safari and use it to get everyone back on the podium together next time. I am confident that the team will make it happen.”
Akio Toyoda, Chairman, TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Team
Next Round: Croatia Rally Returns to WRC Calendar
Round five of the 2026 FIA WRC is Croatia Rally, scheduled for April 9-12. The event returns to the championship after a one-year absence, with a new base in the coastal city of Rijeka. Furthermore, the rally features a mix of fast and technical asphalt sections with constantly changing surface conditions and grip levels.
Toyota has participated in multiple forms of motorsport, including Formula One, the World Endurance Championship, and the Nurburgring 24 Hours. The company consolidated all motorsport activities under the TOYOTA GAZOO Racing brand in April 2015.