WRC Safari receives Sh. 48.5m boost from CFAO Mobility

Preparations for the 2026 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally are gathering momentum as organisers step up support for both the competition and the development of future rally talent in Kenya.
CFAO Mobility Kenya has announced a sponsorship and development package worth KSh. 48,535,200 to support the organisation of this year’s Safari Rally, one of the most demanding rounds of the WRC calendar.

The investment forms part of broader efforts aimed at strengthening the event while building long-term capacity in Kenyan motorsport.

The latest contribution brings CFAO Mobility Kenya’s total investment in the Safari Rally to more than KSh. 153 million over the past six years.

The company has maintained a close association with the championship through its links with Toyota, a brand that has enjoyed notable success in the WRC with 12 championship titles across different eras of the sport.

Speaking during the official cheque handover ceremony, CFAO Mobility Kenya Managing Director Arvinder Reel said the company’s involvement extends beyond supporting the annual rally event.

“Our commitment goes beyond sponsorship. We are investing in the growth of motorsports and will continue to champion initiatives that nurture young talent and elevate Kenya’s rally standing on the global stage,” he said.

Part of this investment includes support for the Safari Rally Training School Project aimed at developing future rally drivers. CFAO Mobility Kenya has donated two specially built Toyota Starlet rally cars to the programme.

The FIA-homologated cars were developed in collaboration with Kenyan automotive engineers and technicians and built to Rally5 international rallying standards at a cost of KSh. 34.5 million. The vehicles were officially presented earlier this week to the President of Kenya at State House.

The company has also supported the development of a prototype Cross Car designed for junior drivers aged between 12 and 17. The vehicle, built locally to FIA standards at a cost of KES 3.7 million, is intended to provide young drivers with an entry point into competitive rallying.

For the first time in Kenya, the Cross Car will be used as part of a structured grassroots motorsport development programme targeting young drivers.

To further strengthen the training component, CFAO Mobility Kenya has partnered with South Africa’s Botterill Motor Sport to develop a rally training curriculum. A training camp for local drivers and navigators is planned, after which the curriculum will be handed over to the Safari Rally secretariat to support continued training beyond this year’s event.

As excitement builds ahead of the rally, fans also had the opportunity to meet members of the Toyota Gazoo Racing Team during an exclusive meet-and-greet session.

Drivers present included current championship leader Elfyn Evans, who won the 2025 Safari Rally and recently triumphed at Rally Sweden, as well as rising star Sami Pajari. Also in attendance was Toyota Gazoo Racing Deputy Team Principal and rally legend Juha Kankkunen, a past Safari Rally winner in 1985.

Principal Secretary in the State Department for Sports Elijah Mwangi commended the investment in grassroots motorsport development, noting its potential to strengthen Kenya’s rally ecosystem.

“I would like to commend CFAO Mobility Kenya for their investment in strengthening grassroots motorsport in the country. Their donation of two Toyota Starlets, support in developing the Rally Academy training curriculum, and commitment to producing Kenya’s first affordable FIA Cross Car at the KVM plant are important steps toward building local motorsport talent and technical capacity,” he said.

He added that collaboration with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training Authority (TVETA) could further support skills development and local production capacity within the sector.


CFAO Mobility Kenya has also continued to support the rally operationally, with the Toyota Hilux serving as the “double zero” and “triple zero” safety cars that run ahead of the competitors to check stage conditions.