Takamoto now leads the WRC Safari Rally

The claim that Katsuta Takamoto now leads the WRC Safari Rally is directly corroborated by the headline and body of the article from KBC Digital. The article, dated for the 2026 WRC Safari Rally in Kenya, reports that Takamoto has taken the top spot heading into the afternoon session of day three in Naivasha. This shift in leadership is attributed to the retirements of the event’s leading contenders, Oliver Solberg, Sébastien Ogier, and defending champion Elfyn Evans, all of whom withdrew after Saturday’s morning loop. The article specifies that Solberg and Ogier suffered damage to their vehicles, while Evans was forced to retire following a crash. With those three drivers out of contention, Takamoto’s Toyota Gazoo team capitalized on the opportunity to move into first place. The text explicitly states, “Toyota Gazoo’s Katsuta Takamoto is now the new leader of the 2026 WRC Safari Rally Kenya heading into day three afternoon session in Naivasha,” leaving no ambiguity about his current standing. KBC Digital is a well‑established Kenyan news outlet that routinely covers sporting events, including the WRC. Its reporting on the Safari Rally is typically timely and sourced from official race communications and on‑site coverage. The article’s alignment with the official WRC schedule and the documented retirements of the top drivers lends additional credibility to the claim. Given the clear, unambiguous language in the article and the reputable source, the evidence supports the assertion that Takamoto is indeed leading the rally at this stage. No contradictory information is presented in the available context, and the claim aligns with the documented race developments.