Kalle Rovanperä excelled during the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, achieving the fastest time of 4:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak followed, securing second and third positions. Drivers are minimizing communications in protest against penalties issued to Adrien Fourmaux, reflecting ongoing tensions in the WRC.
Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his capability during the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown. After facing difficulties in the initial rounds of the season, the two-time world champion showcased a potential resurgence by securing the fastest time on the rough 5.16km warm-up stage. His Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 completed the stage in 4:34.5, leading the pack by 1.6 seconds over Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1.
Neuville improved his time on the final pass, finishing second at 4:36.1, with Ott Tänak close behind in third, clocking 4:36.4 in another Hyundai. Takamoto Katsuta and Adrien Fourmaux followed, marking solid performances for their teams. Katsuta ended fourth, 3.5 seconds slower than Rovanperä, while Fourmaux rounded out the top five.
In a separate note, Thierry Neuville addressed the drivers’ collective decision to limit stage-end comments as a form of protest against a hefty fine imposed on Adrien Fourmaux for inappropriate language during Rally Sweden. Neuville stated, “There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” highlighting the disappointment with the FIA.
Grégoire Munster led M-Sport Ford’s efforts, finishing sixth with a time of 4:39.7 in his Ford Puma Rally1. He narrowly surpassed championship leader Elfyn Evans, who took seventh place. The top-ten also featured competitors Joshua McErlean and Sami Pajari, solidifying a competitive environment for the rally.
The Safari Rally Kenya shakedown showcased Kalle Rovanperä’s return to form as he claimed the fastest time, ahead of notable competitors like Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak. Drivers are uniting in protest this weekend regarding communication issues linked to a fine against a fellow driver. The results indicate a highly competitive rally ahead with several capable contenders in the mix.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
