Kalle Rovanperä excelled in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, clocking the fastest time. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak followed closely behind, while drivers collectively protested against regulatory fines by limiting communications. The shakedown featured a competitive field, ensuring an engaging rally ahead.
Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his return to form during the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, achieving the fastest time in the opening gravel test of the World Rally Championship (WRC) season. The two-time world champion set a benchmark of 04:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, outperforming his competitors as he tackled the challenging 5.16km warm-up stage. Rovanperä, who has previously secured two Safari victories, showcased his adeptness on the demanding African terrain.
Thierry Neuville, piloting a Hyundai i20 N Rally1, touched the second fastest time at 04:36.1 after improving on his final run. Ott Tänak, also in a Hyundai, secured third place, clocking in at 04:36.4. Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota finished fourth, trailing Rovanperä by 3.5 seconds, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five positions.
Neuville announced that WRC drivers would minimize their comments at the conclusion of each stage, voicing their discontent over a recent €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during a prior event. He expressed, “There will be very little communication from us this weekend. 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 represented M-Sport Ford, securing sixth place in his Ford Puma Rally1. He finished ahead of championship leader Elfyn Evans, with Evans placing seventh. Additionally, Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari rounded out the top ten competitors in the shakedown.
The shakedown results are as follows:
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.
In conclusion, Kalle Rovanperä reestablished his dominance in the WRC with a stellar performance during the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, setting the fastest time amidst challenging conditions. The event also saw noteworthy actions from drivers, such as Thierry Neuville’s collective decision to limit communications as a form of protest. Overall, the performance of various competitors highlights the competitive nature of the rally, setting an exciting tone for the events to follow.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
