Round 3 of the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship, Safari Rally Kenya, has wrapped up after four demanding days of competition across the rugged terrain of Naivasha and the Great Rift Valley.

Widely regarded as one of the toughest events on the WRC calendar, Safari Rally Kenya pushed drivers, vehicles, and tyres to their limits. Crews faced sharp rocks, deep sand, and the fine dust known as fesh-fesh, combined with rapidly changing weather conditions that made every stage unpredictable.

Built for extreme off-road conditions

As the exclusive tyre supplier to the WRC, Hankook supported teams with the Dynapro R213, an extreme all-terrain rally tyre developed specifically for harsh off-road environments.

Available in both hard and soft compounds, the Dynapro R213 is engineered with a high-strength casing and an optimised tread pattern. This delivers consistent grip, stable handling, and precise steering response across fast, technical stages.

For Kenya, an updated soft gravel specification was introduced, improving grip on wet and slippery surfaces while maintaining durability in changing conditions. This played a key role in helping drivers maintain control and complete stages in one of the most punishing rally environments in the world.

Proven performance on the global stage

Toyota GAZOO Racing World Rally Team driver Takamoto Katsuta secured victory at Safari Rally Kenya, highlighting the importance of reliability and consistent tyre performance across extreme terrain.

Hankook’s involvement in the WRC is backed by extensive development and testing. More than 2,000 kilometres of real-world testing across eight countries, in collaboration with the FIA and global vehicle manufacturers, has led to a fully FIA-certified rally tyre range.

As the exclusive tyre supplier across all WRC classes from 2025, Hankook continues to strengthen its position in top-level motorsport while bringing proven performance technology to drivers around the world, including here in New Zealand.

Looking ahead to Croatia

The championship now moves to Round 4, the WRC Croatia Rally, running from 9 to 12 April along the Adriatic coast.

For this event, Hankook will supply its Ventus Z215 and Ventus Z210 tarmac rally tyres. Designed for high-performance sealed road conditions, these tyres deliver strong grip, stability, and control across a mix of coastal and mountainous stages.