Kalle Rovanperä dominated the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, posting the fastest time at 4:34.5. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak followed closely in second and third. WRC drivers are limiting comments due to a fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language. Grégoire Munster and Elfyn Evans also performed well in the shakedown, indicating a competitive rally ahead.
In the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, Kalle Rovanperä showcased strong form, clocking in with a time of 4:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. This marked a significant turnaround for the two-time world champion, who struggled in earlier rounds this season. His performance not only indicated his return to competitive driving but also solidified his reputation on the challenging African terrain, where he has previously enjoyed success.
Thierry Neuville followed closely in second place with a time of 4:36.1 in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, improving significantly on his final run. Ott Tänak rounded out the top three for Hyundai, recording a time of 4:36.4, just behind Neuville by 0.3 seconds. Takamoto Katsuta placed fourth with a time of 4:38.0 while Adrien Fourmaux completed the top five with a time of 4:36.7.
WRC drivers, including Neuville, planned to restrict their stage-ending comments this weekend. This decision arose in response to a €10,000 fine imposed on Fourmaux for inappropriate language during the previous Rally Sweden. Neuville expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” emphasizing a desire for better interaction with FIA.
Grégoire Munster led M-Sport Ford by finishing sixth in his Ford Puma Rally1 with a time of 4:39.7, closely followed by championship leader Elfyn Evans. Other competitors included Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari, who also claimed spots in the top ten shakedown times, demonstrating the competitive landscape ahead of the rally.
Kalle Rovanperä’s impressive performance in the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown signals a positive turn for the champion after a tough start to the season. The reaction from drivers regarding the restrictions on comments highlights ongoing tensions within the sport. As competitors like Neuville and Tänak closely trail Rovanperä, the rally promises to be competitive. Overall, the shakedown showcased the advancements of various teams and set the stage for the upcoming rally action.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
