Kalle Rovanperä Dominates Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown
Kalle Rovanperä triumphed in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, clocking a leading time of 4:34.5, 1.6 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville. Ott Tänak secured third, while a protest regarding communication practices arose among WRC drivers due to a fine imposed on Adrien Fourmaux. This sets the stage for an intense rally amid heightened competitive tensions.
Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his formidable skill in the WRC’s Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, marking a significant comeback after a rocky start to his season. The two-time world champion quickly established his dominance on the rough 5.16km stage, clocking a time of 4:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, showcasing a 1.6-second lead over Thierry Neuville, who secured second place with his improved time of 4:36.1 in a Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
Ott Tänak completed the top three in another Hyundai, finishing 1.9 seconds behind Rovanperä. Behind the leading crews, Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota secured fourth place at 4:38.0, followed by Adrien Fourmaux in fifth with a time of 4:36.7. The shakedown results underscore Rovanperä’s expertise on Kenya’s challenging terrain, as he aims to capitalize on this momentum in the rally.
In a notable turn of events, WRC drivers, led by Neuville, have collectively decided to restrict their communication at the finish of stages in protest of a hefty €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during Rally Sweden. “There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” stated Neuville. This decision reflects the drivers’ dissatisfaction with the FIA’s lack of dialogue.
The momentum for M-Sport Ford was represented by Grégoire Munster, who came in sixth with a time of 4:39.7, ahead of championship leader Elfyn Evans at seventh (4:40.8). The top ten was completed by Joshua McErlean in eighth, Oliver Solberg in ninth, and Sami Pajari in tenth. The competitive results set the stage for an exciting rally ahead.
Kalle Rovanperä’s impressive performance in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown suggests a potential revival in his season, marked by a strong time on a challenging course. His lead over notable competitors such as Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak highlights his skill on gravel surfaces. Additionally, the drivers’ protest regarding communication limitations reflects a unified stance on regulatory issues within the WRC, indicating ongoing tensions that may impact the dynamics of the competition.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
