Rovanperä Sets the Pace in Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown

Kalle Rovanperä excelled in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, clocking 04:34.5 with Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak following behind. Neuville announced minimal stage-end communication from drivers in protest of a fine against Adrien Fourmaux. The top ten included Grégoire Munster and Elfyn Evans, showcasing a competitive rally atmosphere.

In the recent Safari Rally shakedown in Kenya, two-time World Champion Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated a strong return to form after an underwhelming start to the season. With two previous victories at the Safari Rally, he quickly established himself as a frontrunner, finishing the 5.16km warm-up stage with a time of 04:34.5, which was 1.6 seconds faster than second-placed Thierry Neuville.

Neuville, in a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, improved his time during the final pass, securing second place with a time of 04:36.1. Following him was Ott Tänak, who completed the top three with a time of 04:36.4. Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta came in fourth at 04:38.0, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five with a time of 04:36.7.

In a noteworthy development, Neuville announced that WRC drivers would be limiting their post-stage comments in response to the €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during the previous Rally Sweden. “There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” he stated, reflecting the drivers’ disappointment over the lack of dialogue with the FIA.

Grégoire Munster led the M-Sport Ford team, placing sixth with a time of 04:39.7 and edging out championship leader Elfyn Evans, who was seventh. Joshua McErlean and Sami Pajari completed the top ten.

Kalle Rovanperä’s impressive performance in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown indicates a strong comeback as he sets a competitive pace for the upcoming rally. His commanding lead over rivals, coupled with the drivers’ collective response to recent controversies, underscores the ongoing tension and competition within the WRC. As the rally progresses, it will be essential to monitor how these dynamics evolve.

Original Source: www.wrc.com