Rovanperä Takes Lead in Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown

Kalle Rovanperä led the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown with a time of 4:34.5, showcasing significant potential after a poor start to the season. Thierry Neuville finished second, while Ott Tänak secured third. Drivers agreed to limit communication in protest of a fine imposed during the previous rally, highlighting ongoing tensions within the WRC. Grégoire Munster claimed sixth, followed by Elfyn Evans, among others in the top ten.

Kalle Rovanperä displayed impressive form in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, quickly asserting himself as a leader on gravel. After a tough start to the season without a top-five finish, the two-time world champion reminded competitors of his expertise on this demanding terrain. Rovanperä’s Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 completed the 5.16 km warm-up stage in 4:34.5, outperforming Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1 by 1.6 seconds, with Neuville improving his time to secure second place. Ott Tänak also performed well, finishing third, 1.9 seconds behind Rovanperä.

Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota positioned himself in fourth, 3.5 seconds off his teammate Rovanperä, followed closely by Adrien Fourmaux, who rounded out the top five in a Hyundai. Neuville announced that WRC drivers would limit communication this weekend in response to a €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during the Rally Sweden, expressing disappointment over the lack of dialogue with the FIA. “There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” Neuville stated, indicating a collective decision among drivers to minimize remarks at stage ends.

Grégoire Munster, driving for M-Sport Ford, came in sixth with a time of 4:39.7 in his Puma Rally1, just ahead of Elfyn Evans, the current championship leader. Other notable finishes in the top ten included drivers Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari in their respective Ford Puma and Toyota GR Yaris models.

In summary, Kalle Rovanperä’s exceptional performance in the Safari Rally Kenya’s shakedown has established him as a formidable contender for the upcoming competition. His noteworthy time, alongside significant reactions from drivers regarding regulatory issues, sets the stage for an intense rally. As the event progresses, it will be interesting to observe the strategies employed by the competitors, particularly in light of the recent controversy affecting driver communication.

Original Source: www.wrc.com