Racing star Kalle Rovanperä today set the pace on World Rally Championships (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown Stage at Sleeping Warrior where he beat world champion Thierry Neuville by 1.6 seconds.
But Neuville, who is seeking his maiden WRC Safari title, led a Hyundai’s 2-3-4 finish on the with 1999 world Champion Ott Tänak and Adrien Fourmaux coming in second and third.
Takamoto Katsuta, who has been on the podium thrice in, posted fifth quickest on, 1.3s behind Fourmaux and 1.7s ahead of the fastest M-Sport Ford piloted by Grégoire Munster.
Event proper begins tomorrow with flag off at City Hall Way, followed by the crowd-pulling Kasarani SSS which will count as the event’s opening speed test.
The second stage of the day tomorrow will run at Mzabibu (8.15 km) in Naivasha before crews return to the Wildlife REseach and Training Institute for overnight Parc Ferme.
Reigning FIA African Rally Champion Karan Patel in a Skoda Rally 3 was the fastest Kenyan. Karan is seeking a hattrick of Championship win in the African series that will traverse Uganda, Tanzania, Burundi and Rwanda.
Local hero Carl Tundo settled for 18th posting his fastest time (4:13.3) on the first pass. Reigning Kenyan champion Samman Vohra was the second placed Kenya.
Tundo’s navigator Tim Jessop commented on their shakedown experience: “The car had a bit of a problem. The shakedown was rough, rocky, dust, ruts. Today was dusty but I think we are due for some rain.”
Shakedown Classification
#69 Rovanperä Kalle – Halttunen J. (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 4:34.5, 4:42.6 2.
#1 Thierry Neuville – Wydaeghe M. (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 4:38.9, 4:38.8, 4:36.1, 4:43.0 3.
#8 Ott Tänak – Järveoja Martin (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 4:36.4, 4:40.6, 4:39.9 4.
#16 Adrien Fourmaux – Coria A. (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 4:36.7, 4:37.4 , 6:45.1 #18 Takamoto Katsuta – Johnston A. (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 4:41.1, 4:38.0, 4:40.6 #13 Grégoire Munster – Louka Louis (Ford Puma Rally1) 4:39.7, 10:00.0 7.
#33 Elfyn Evans – Martin Scott (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 4:40.8, 4:45.4, 4:46.4 #55 Josh McErlean – Treacy Eoin (Ford Puma Rally1) 4:49.0, 4:44.2, 4:46.5
#20 Solberg Oliver – Edmondson E. (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 4:48.6, 4:49.5, 4:47.1
#5 Sami Pajari – Salminen Marko (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 4:50.9, 4:48.5, 10:00.0
THURSDAY ITINERARY:
11:26: Start – City Hall Way, Nairobi
13:05: SS1 Super Special Kasarani (4.76 km)
15:20: Regroup In-Safari Centre Naivasha
16:20: Regroup Out
16:38: SS2 Mzabibu 1 (8.15 km)
17:08 Parc Ferme In-WRTI-Naivasha
LEG TOTALS
Competitive: 12.91km
Transport: 141.33km
Total: 154.24km