Naveen Puligilla and Musa Sherif to compete in WRC Safari Rally 2026

Rally driver Naveen Puligilla from Hyderabad will be teaming up with co-driver Musa Sherif from Kasaragod as they are set to compete in the WRC Safari Rally 2026, which will be taking place from March 12 to March 15 in Kenya. The duo will be competing in the WRC3 category.

In November 2025, Naveen Puligilla and Musa Sherif made headlines as they became the first Indian driver and co-driver pair to finish on the podium in a WRC event at the WRC Rally Saudi Arabia, and they are aiming to put in a similarly strong performance in the Safari Rally. Naveen is fresh off an INRC 3T victory at Nashik, and he will be driving a Ford Fiesta Rally3 in the Safari Rally, which has been prepped by Africa Eco Motorsport from Nairobi. Joining Naveen as co-driver is Musa Sherif, who has over 33 years of rally experience.

“The Safari is the ultimate test of man and machine,” Naveen Puligilla said, commenting on the challenging nature of the Safari Rally. “Starting the Safari again is a proud moment for us. Our previous experience has taught us the importance of patience and survival. We have a fantastic car in the Ford Fiesta Rally3 and the local expertise of Africa Eco Motorsports in Nairobi gives us a strong advantage. We are ready to respect the rally while pushing our limits.” His co-driver Musa Sherif went on to add, The roads here are extremely rough and can change after every pass, so the pace notes must be precise. My job is to keep Naveen informed and safe, especially through the notorious sections. We have prepared extensively, and the forecast of heavy rain could change everything. It could make an already brutal rally even more spectacular.”

The Safari Rally in Kenya marks the third round of the 2026 WRC season and it will be run around Lake Naivasha and will feature 20 Special Stages covering a competitive distance of 338.34 km, within a total rally distance of 1,205.46 km. It continues to be one of the most demanding events on the calendar, and the forecast of heavy rainfall could turn the typically dusty and rocky stages of the rally into slippery, muddy, and deeply rutted tracks, reminiscent of the legendary Safari rallies of the 1970s – putting the driving and navigating skills of the participants through a gruelling test.