Day 1
Championship leader Thierry Neuville took a slender 0.1-second lead over his Hyundai team-mate Ott Tänak after winning Safari Rally Kenya’s opening stage on Thursday.
Thousands of passionate fans were vying for every possible vantage point as this 71st edition of the iconic Safari Rally got underway in the suburbs of Kenya’s capital. It followed a glittering ceremonial start in downtown Nairobi which was attended by President William Ruto.
Neuville, who carries a three-point championship lead into this round, edged his i20 N partner Tänak by a single tenth over the 4.84km opener, while reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä completed the top three just 0.7s further back.
Africa has been home to two of Takamoto Katsuta’s four WRC podiums. Driving a Toyota GR Yaris identical to Rovanperä’s, he dropped just 0.9s whilst posting the fourth-best time ahead of Hyundai rival Esapekka Lappi.
Elfyn Evans, currently second in the points, went sixth-quickest in his Toyota with M-Sport Ford Puma youngster Adrien Fourmaux following closely behind. Gus Greensmith set the pace in WRC2, taking eighth overall in a Škoda Fabia RS, while Grégoire Munster and Oliver Solberg completed the top 10.
Day 2
World rally champion Kalle Rovanpera produced a perfect drive to win all of Friday’s stages and lead Safari Rally Kenya following retirements for Hyundai’s Ott Tanak and Esapekka Lappi.
Rovanpera set a blistering pace across the day’s six stages aboard his factory Toyota to lead team-mate Elfyn Evans by 56.9s heading into Saturday.
Takamoto Katsuta ended the day in third [+1m00.8s] to set up a provisional Toyota 1-2-3 after a nightmare day for Hyundai.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville, piloting the remaining Hyundai, survived a puncture on stage three to complete Friday in fourth [+1m07.3s], in front of the M-Sport-Ford duo Adrien Fourmaux [1m46.6s] and Gregoire Munster [+3m34.2s].
Day 3
Kalle Rovanpera successfully navigated through a drama-filled Saturday to open up a huge Safari Rally lead after a fuel system issue struck World Rally Championship points leader Thierry Neuville.
The defending champion was one of the few to avoid punctures or mechanical issues to complete the day’s six stages with a 2m08.9s lead over Toyota team-mate Takamoto Katsuta, with M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux third [+3m13.3s].
Evans ended the day in fourth [+5m35.6s] to bag a provisional 10 points, despite suffering another two punctures. Neuville nursed his car through in fifth [+11m48.6s] to scoop a provisional eight points, while top WRC2 runner Gus Greensmith held sixth overall [15m02.0s].
Day 4
Kalle Rovanperä became a two-time winner of Safari Rally Kenya on Sunday afternoon, ending the gruelling African fixture with a 1m 37.8s victory margin having led since Friday morning.
In by far the most punishing FIA World Rally Championship round so far this season, it was Rovanperä’s meticulous balance of both speed and maturity that ultimately secured his 12th career victory.
Takamoto Katstuta completed a Toyota GR Yaris 1-2 as the Japanese marque extended its manufacturers’ championship lead to four points over Hyundai Motorsport, while M-Sport Ford Puma hotshot Adrien Fourmaux bagged his second consecutive podium 47.3s behind.
Evans remains second in the drivers’ championship behind leader Thierry Neuville, who trailed him by almost six minutes in fifth. Neuville now heads Evans by six points but endured a troublesome week aboard his Hyundai i20 N.
