Thierry Neuville challenges a 10-second penalty for a jump start at the Safari Rally Kenya, attributing it to a timing system malfunction. Having already accrued 1 minute and 10 seconds in penalties, Neuville’s efforts to recover from early setbacks have yielded only partial success. In contrast, Ott Tänak has dominated stages, significantly extending his lead over competitors. The event underscores the complexities faced by rally teams under demanding conditions.
Thierry Neuville, a prominent star in the Hyundai World Rally Championship (WRC), has expressed his dissatisfaction with a 10-second penalty for a jump start during the Safari Rally Kenya. He believes that a malfunction in the timing system led to this penalty, compounding a challenging event where he has already accrued a total of 1 minute and 10 seconds in penalties across just six stages of the rally.
Neuville’s difficulties began at the third stage after encountering a mechanical issue with his i20 N, necessitating a replacement of the driveshaft and gearbox within a brief service window. This resulted in a one-minute penalty for arriving late. Despite overcoming these setbacks to advance from 18th to 4th position by stage six, Neuville’s penalties continued to impact his performance, including a puncture that hindered his progress further.
Despite these challenges, Neuville remains optimistic about contesting the latest penalty. He stated, “First of all we are very disappointed that we have already been hit by trouble at the start of the rally… we should get back that 10 seconds.” He hopes to demonstrate that the penalty was based on inaccuracies in the timing system, twice noting that his team experienced discrepancies in stage times prior to the penalty being issued.
In contrast, Ott Tänak, driving the second Hyundai, has achieved notable success, winning three of four stages and extending his lead significantly. His performance has put him firmly in command as he leads the competitors, with closest rival Elfyn Evans from Toyota, and Kalle Rovanpera in third after securing a fastest time in a later stage. Other competitors like Josh McErlean and Takamoto Katsuta faced significant setbacks, further illustrating the challenging conditions of the rally.
As Neuville continues to navigate the complexities of this rally, his focus will be on both recovering from penalties and addressing mechanical issues, while also aiming to appeal against the penalty he incurred due to alleged timing discrepancies.
Thierry Neuville’s participation in the Safari Rally Kenya has been marred by penalties, raising concerns about the timing system’s accuracy. Despite mechanical setbacks and a series of penalties adding up to over a minute, Neuville has shown resilience by climbing the ranks. Meanwhile, Ott Tänak’s strong performance positions him as a leader amidst challenging conditions. The unfolding events highlight the unpredictable nature of rally racing and the significance of accurate timing in ensuring fair competition.
Original Source: www.motorsport.com
