WRC
Rovanperä sets the pace in Safari Rally Kenya shakedown
The FIA World Rally Championship roared back into action as Kalle Rovanperä stormed to the fastest time in Wednesday morning’s Safari Rally Kenya shakedown.
After a challenging start to the season - failing to crack the top five in the first two rounds - the two-time world champion signaled a potential return to form on the WRC’s first gravel test of the year. With two Safari victories already to his name, the Finn wasted no time reminding everyone of his prowess on Africa’s punishing terrain.
Rovanperä’s opening run through the rough and rocky 5.16km warm-up stage put his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on top, clocking 1.6sec quicker than Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1, who improved on his final pass to snatch second. Ott Tänak, also in a Hyundai, completed the top three, 1.9sec off the benchmark.
Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta slotted into fourth, 3.5sec adrift of his teammate, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five.
Neuville revealed that WRC drivers will limit their stage-end comments this weekend in protest of the €10,000 fine handed to Fourmaux for swearing during last month’s Rally Sweden.
Thierry Neuville placed second
© WRC
“There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” said the Belgian. “We are disappointed not to have had more communication with the FIA since Sweden and Adrien’s fine. Unanimously, we have decided not to communicate at the finish – except at the finish of the longest stage.”
Grégoire Munster led the charge for M-Sport Ford, placing sixth in his Puma Rally1. He edged out championship leader Elfyn Evans, while Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari also featured in the top ten.
Shakedown Times
Pos.
Crew
Car
Time
1
Kalle ROVANPERÄ / Jonne HALTTUNEN
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
04:34.5
2
Thierry NEUVILLE / Martijn WYDAEGHE
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
04:36.1
3
Ott TÄNAK / Martin JÄRVEOJA
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
04:36.4
4
Adrien FOURMAUX / Alex CORIA
Hyundai i20 N Rally1
04:36.7
5
Takamoto KATSUTA / Aaron JOHNSTON
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
04:38.0
6
Grégoire MUNSTER / Louis LOUKA
Ford Puma Rally1
04:39.7
7
Elfyn EVANS / Scott MARTIN
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
04:40.8
8
Joshua MCERLEAN / Eoin TREACY
Ford Puma Rally1
04:44.2
9
Oliver SOLBERG / Elliott EDMONDSON
Toyota GR Yaris Rally2
04:47.1
10
Sami PAJARI / Marko SALMINEN
Toyota GR Yaris Rally1
04:48.5
