The 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya returned as one of the toughest and most iconic events on the World Rally Championship calendar. Held from 12–15 March around Lake Naivasha in the Great Rift Valley, this year’s edition focused entirely on the rugged terrain outside Nairobi, packing 20 special stages into four days.
SportPesa Racing made a strong statement in their official debut, entering Car No. 63 with driver Leo Varese and navigator Kigo Kareithi in a Toyota Yaris. Varese, a multiple Kenyan rally champion, praised the partnership with SportPesa, saying, “For my co-driver and myself, winning two out of two events is truly no mean achievement. Big up to our sponsors SportPesa who made it all possible.”
SportPesa has been supporting Leo Varese since 2015. Over his career, Varese has won multiple titles, including the Two-Wheel Drive (2WD) class in the Kenyan National Rally Championship. He was also crowned overall winner in 2008, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2017, and 2022, making him one of Kenya’s most accomplished rally drivers.
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The new partnership with Varese and Kareithi is part of SportPesa’s ongoing commitment to growing local talent and supporting diverse sporting disciplines. As part of the collaboration, the team received a KSh 40 million sponsorship, giving them the resources to compete and gain experience on one of the world’s most demanding rally stages.
