Nairobi, Kenya: Kalle Rovanperä emerged triumphant from the brutal Safari Rally Kenya, claiming his second victory at the legendary African event. With a masterful display of speed and composure, the Finn secured his 12th career win in the FIA World Rally Championship.
The unforgiving Kenyan terrain proved to be the most challenging test of the season so far. Rovanperä, co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, established a commanding lead early on. Their meticulous approach, characterized by swiftness and calculated risk management, saw them conquer Friday’s rocky stages around Lake Naivasha with a near one-minute advantage.
Saturday offered no respite. While Rovanperä continued his clean run, misfortune struck his competitors. Mechanical woes and tyre punctures plagued the chasing pack, allowing the young champion to extend his lead to a comfortable two minutes by day’s end.
Sunday’s final leg, held amidst the breathtaking scenery of Hell’s Gate with Kenyan President William Ruto in attendance, became a formality for Rovanperä. He skillfully navigated the remaining stages, solidifying his dominant victory with a margin of 1 minute and 37.8 seconds.
Takamoto Katsuta, in another Toyota GR Yaris, completed a 1-2 finish for the Japanese manufacturer. This result further strengthened Toyota’s hold on the manufacturers’ championship, extending their lead over Hyundai Motorsport to four points. M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux secured his second consecutive podium finish, rounding out the top three with a time 47.3 seconds behind Katsuta.
While Rovanperä reigned supreme, misfortune befell his rivals. Elfyn Evans, initially a podium contender, endured a troubled Saturday. Two separate wheel changes on the side of the stage hampered his progress, pushing him back to fourth place, over four minutes behind Rovanperä.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville’s week was marred by technical gremlins aboard his Hyundai i20 N. Fuel pressure issues on Saturday cost him valuable time, and a rock strike on Sunday inflicted further damage on his suspension. He finished a disappointing fifth, nearly six minutes behind Evans. The weekend proved even more challenging for his teammates, Esapekka Lappi and Ott Tänak.
Lappi’s rally was plagued by gearbox failures, while Tänak could only manage eighth overall after his car sustained broken suspension on Friday. He finished behind WRC2 frontrunners Gus Greensmith and Oliver Solberg.
Rounding out the top ten were privateer Jourdan Serderidis in a Ford Puma and Škoda Fabia Rally2 champion Kajetan Kajetanowicz.
The grueling Safari Rally concludes the championship’s gravel leg. The WRC now shifts its focus to asphalt for next month’s Croatia Rally, held from April 18th to 21st in the capital city of Zagreb.
Race Result – WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2024:
- Position 1: K Rovanperä / J Halttunen (Team Toyota GR Yaris), Time: 3h 36m 4.4s, Points: 18
- Position 2: T Katsuta / A Johnston (Team Toyota GR Yaris), Time: +1m 37.8s, Points: 15
- Position 3: A Fourmaux / A Coria (Team Ford Puma), Time: +2m 25.1s, Points: 13
- Position 4: E Evans / S Martin (Team Toyota GR Yaris), Time: +4m 20.2s, Points: 10
- Position 5: T Neuville / M Wydaeghe (Team Hyundai i20), Time: +10m 17.5s, Points: 8
Drivers’ championship standings – WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2024:
- Position 1: T Neuville, Points: 67pts
- Position 2: E Evans, Points: 61pts
- Position 3: A Fourmaux, Points: 46pts
Statistics source: https://www.redbullcontentpool.com/fiawrc
Content Reference: www.redbullcontentpool.com/fiawrc
