The WRC leader, Toyota, is confident that Hyundai will be able to recover lost ground this season. Team director Jari-Matti Latvala expressed his belief that the Korean manufacturer will compete for the World Rally Championship title.
After securing its ninth constructors’ crown last season, Toyota has dominated the first two races of 2026, achieving consecutive podiums in Monte Carlo and Sweden. The next event, the Safari Rally in Kenya, will show whether Hyundai can make a leap forward in its competition.
Despite Toyota’s successes, Latvala has acknowledged that the rival team has not performed at its best with its i20 N Rally1, even after making improvements at the start of the season. Hyundai, surprisingly, has not been as close as expected in the early races, and Latvala is confident they will react soon.
Andrew Wheatley, Hyundai’s motorsport director, has confirmed that new updates for their vehicle are expected before the next race in Croatia, scheduled for next month. Latvala is eager for the possibility that Hyundai may present serious competition before the Kenya event.
The Safari Rally in Kenya, which will consist of a total of 20 stages, will start on Thursday. Toyota will compete with a total of five vehicles, including the championship leader, Elfyn Evans, and the Monte Carlo winner, Oliver Solberg. The defending champion, Sébastien Ogier, will also participate, although he has been following a partial program.
Hyundai achieved a notable double podium in Kenya last year, with Ott Tänak and Thierry Neuville finishing second and third, respectively. Toyota, for its part, will seek to maintain its superiority in what is expected to be an intense and competitive event.