President Ruto Unveils Safari Rally Kenya as Tänak Takes Early Command

President Ruto launched Safari Rally Kenya amidst enthusiastic crowds. Ott Tänak took the lead after a strong performance, while Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta followed closely. Adrien Fourmaux faced technical issues but aims to recover points. The rally’s next stages are set to challenge competitors further.

President William Ruto officially launched Safari Rally Kenya, marking the commencement of this prestigious event with the leading crews starting from the Kenyan capital. Following this, the rally proceeded to the Kasarani Stadium for a super special stage, attracting thousands of spectators eager to witness the World Rally Championship (WRC) stars compete. The teams then moved to the new Mzabibu test, located just 10 kilometers from the rally’s base in Naivasha.

Elfyn Evans, currently leading the championship, initiated strong competition in Kasarani; however, Ott Tänak responded impressively in SS2, showcasing his skills on the challenging longer stage. Ultimately, Tänak surged from fourth to first place by the end of the day, finishing 2.4 seconds ahead of Takamoto Katsuta, with Grégoire Munster trailing closely behind by two-tenths of a second.

“For me, it was all fine,” declared Tänak. He expressed confidence in the upcoming tough stages: “I think the first stage tomorrow will show quite a lot. It’s super tricky, very demanding and long at the same time. I think the whole day will be quite a big show.”

Takamoto Katsuta, a three-time podium finisher in Kenya, experienced a setback in SS2 when he veered off during a turn, losing valuable time. His Toyota teammates, Kalle Rovanperä and Evans, rounded out the top five. In contrast, Adrien Fourmaux from Hyundai faced difficulties in SS2, failing to start due to engine issues that arose after regrouping.

Thierry Neuville, the defending champion and Fourmaux’s teammate, also encountered challenges with his i20 N Rally1, suffering from a technical problem that relegated him to eighth position, trailing behind competitors Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari. The rally will continue on Friday with the first of six stages, notably including the difficult 31.40km Camp Moran test slated for both loops.

Addressing his earlier performance, Fourmaux remains optimistic despite his issues. He confirmed his intention to restart on Friday to maximize points for the event. “It’s not ideal, but we are going to try to get the best that we can,” he stated. He elaborated on the technical difficulties faced, revealing, “We have an electrical issue, the battery is completely dead… It’s really frustrating, but there’s nothing else we can do.”

The launch of Safari Rally Kenya by President William Ruto was marked by lively competition, with Ott Tänak taking an early lead after a strong performance on the challenging stages. Despite setbacks faced by other competitors like Adrien Fourmaux, the rally continues to captivate fans and participants alike. Moving forward, the upcoming stages promise to deliver intense and thrilling experiences as drivers strive to secure their positions.

Original Source: www.wrc.com