By KPC Reporter
Defending champion Piers Daykin is set to return to Taita Taveta County to defend his Equatorial Rally title, but the Rocca Rally driver knows the challenge ahead will be far tougher this time.
Daykin, who claimed victory at the inaugural Equatorial Rally alongside co-driver Lloyd Destro in a Datsun 280Z with a winning time of 7:13:37, heads back to the rugged conservancies and ranches of Taita Taveta from May 1 to 3 for the second edition of the event, facing a significantly stronger and more competitive field.
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A total of 27 crews representing seven nationalities have confirmed their participation in the 2026 Equatorial Rally, organised by Equatorial Classic Rallying.
Competitors from Kenya, Great Britain, Germany, Poland, India, the Netherlands and Rwanda will line up, underlining the event’s growing international appeal beyond East Africa.
Among those looking to stop Daykin’s title defence is Kenyan rally icon Ian Duncan, who will team up with co-driver Jaspal Matharu in a Datsun 280Z under the Ian Duncan Rally banner.
ALS Motorsports has entered three strong crews, led by Farhaaz Khan, who pushed Daykin hard in last year’s edition before finishing second overall. Khan returns with co-driver Alfir Khan in a Porsche 911.
The team also fields Shakeel Khan alongside Assad Mughal and Aslam Khan with Ishaq Taher, both competing in Ford Escort Mk 1s.
SSS Rallysport Limited adds international flavour with two overseas crews from Germany and India.
Germany’s Angleo Perez-Riemer and Konstantin Mastalka will compete in a Datsun Violet GT, while India’s Mukesh Jani partners Kenyan co-driver Shameer Yusuf in an identical machine.
Poland’s Zoll Racing enters Piotr Beaupre and Michal Zoll in a Ford Escort Mk 2, while Rwanda’s Giancarlo Davite joins forces with co-driver Zahir Shah in a Toyota Corolla 16V under the Gianca Rally Team banner.
One of the most sentimental storylines this year comes from the Equatorial Classic Rallying team, where a father-and-son family connection adds a personal touch to the competition.
Philip Kyriazi, owner of the iconic Teita Sisal Estate—part of which forms part of the rally route—will race across his own land in a Ford Escort Mk 2 alongside co-driver Max Green, son of another Kenyan rally great, Rory Green.
In a separate Ford Escort Mk 2 entry, George Kyriazi teams up with Victor Okundi, adding more family pride to the competition.
Also among the standout entries is Kenyan motorsport legend Anthony Nielsen, whose decades of experience across multiple motorsport disciplines make him one of the most respected names in the field. He will compete with co-driver William Bass in a Ford Escort Mk 1.
The Equatorial Rally 2026 is organised by Equatorial Classic Rallying in partnership with the Taita Taveta County Government and host partners Lumo Community Wildlife Conservancy, Lualenyi Ranching Company Limited, Choke Conservancy, Kutima Ranch, Mgeno Conservancy, Mgeno Community and Gicheha Farm.
With a stronger international field, legendary names, and fierce rivalries returning to the dusty trails of Taita Taveta, all eyes will be on whether Daykin can successfully defend his crown—or whether a new champion will emerge.
Full Entry List
Piers Daykin / Lloyd Destro – Rocca Rally – Datsun 280Z – Kenya
Ian Duncan / Jaspal Matharu – Ian Duncan Rally – Datsun 280Z – Kenya
Robert Calder / Gavin Laurence – Quest Performance Rallying – Datsun 280Z – Kenya
Richard Arrowsmith / Roger Midwood – Freestone RS – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Great Britain
Farhaaz Khan / Alfir Khan – ALS Motorsports – Porsche 911 – Kenya
Shakeel Khan / Assad Mughal – ALS Motorsports – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Kenya
Jonathan Somen / Jaden Somen – Scuderia Dagoretti – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Kenya
Malcom Destro / Oliver Francombe – Team Tomcat – Datsun 260Z – Kenya
Asad Anwar / Tej Sehmi – Africa Eco Motorsports – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Kenya
Aslam Khan / Ishaq Taher – ALS Motorsports – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Kenya
Russel Hughes / Mellisa Shepherd – Team Huzi – Ford Capri – Kenya
Bobby Chaudhry / Shabaz Anwar – Hellostraw Racing – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Great Britain / Kenya
Kyle Lucas / Kaya Tyack – Team BRF – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Kenya
Geoffrey Page-Morris / Dez Page-Morris – Quest Performance Rallying – Datsun 260Z – Kenya
Mark Tilbury / Herman Raijsenaars – TRT – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Kenya / Netherlands
Ibrahim Namoya / Inda Craig – F and R Speed – Toyota Platz – Kenya
Onkar Kalsi / Qahir Rahim – Onkar Kalsi – Datsun 260Z – Kenya
Giancarlo Davite / Zahir Shah – Gianca Rally Team – Toyota Corolla 16V – Rwanda / Kenya
Angleo Perez-Riemer / Konstantin Mastalka – SSS Rallysport Ltd – Datsun Violet GT – Germany
Amman Shah / Rahil Shah – Kenya Sweets Rally Team – Datsun Violet GT – Kenya
Mukesh Jani / Shameer Yusuf – SSS Rallysport Ltd – Datsun Violet GT – India / Kenya
Rajesh Maini / Devan Bhundia – Team USN – Datsun 280Z – Kenya
Phillip Kyriazi / Max Green – Equatorial Classic Rallying – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Kenya
Anthony Nielsen / William Bass – Equatorial Classic Rallying – Ford Escort Mk 1 – Kenya
Peter Young / Zane Young – Young Ones – Ford Capri – Kenya
Piotr Beaupre / Michal Zoll – Zoll Racing – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Poland
George Kyriazi / Victor Okundi – Equatorial Classic Rallying – Ford Escort Mk 2 – Kenya
