Kalle Rovanperä topped the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, clocking a swift 4:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak claimed second and third, respectively, while M-Sport’s Grégoire Munster secured sixth. Amidst the competition, drivers will limit comments in protest of a recent fine imposed on Adrien Fourmaux.
Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his formidable skills at the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, achieving a rapid time on the event’s first gravel test. After a rocky start to the season, Rovanperä took the lead with a time of 4:34.5, outperforming other competitors with a margin of 1.6 seconds over Thierry Neuville. Rovanperä’s success is no surprise, given his two prior victories in this challenging event.
Thierry Neuville finished second, closely followed by Ott Tänak in third place, who was only 1.9 seconds behind the leading time. Other notable competitors included Takamoto Katsuta in fourth and Adrien Fourmaux who rounded out the top five. This shakedown highlights the intense competition expected in the forthcoming stages of the rally.
In a related development, Neuville indicated that WRC drivers would restrict stage-end comments as a protest against the recent €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during the Rally Sweden. Neuville emphasized the lack of communication from the FIA since the incident and the drivers’ unified decision to limit their remarks at stage finishes this weekend.
Grégoire Munster led M-Sport Ford’s efforts with a sixth-place finish in his Puma Rally1. He narrowly edged out championship leader Elfyn Evans and was joined in the top ten by Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari. The competitive shakedown times reflect the high stakes and talents present in this year’s rally.
The Safari Rally Kenya shakedown showcased Kalle Rovanperä’s return to form, emphasizing his prior successes in the event. With top competitors like Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak closely trailing, the competition promises to be fierce. The drivers’ decision to limit communications reveals their solidarity in addressing recent FIA regulations. Overall, the shakedown sets the stage for an exhilarating rally ahead, with several key competitors demonstrating their capabilities.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
