Rovanperä Dominates Safari Rally Kenya Shakedown With Impressive…

Kalle Rovanperä led the Safari Rally Kenya shakedown, clocking 04:34.5 and signaling a comeback after an earlier season struggle. Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak followed, with drivers limiting comments this weekend to protest a fine against Adrien Fourmaux. Top ten finishers showcased competitive times in the initial gravel test of the WRC season.

Kalle Rovanperä demonstrated his skill in the Safari Rally Kenya’s shakedown, showcasing significant speed in the WRC’s initial gravel test of the season. After struggling to place in the top five during the first two rounds, Rovanperä’s performance highlighted his familiarity with the challenging African terrain, clocking a time of 04:34.5 in his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1. This marked him as the fastest driver during the shakedown by a margin of 1.6 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville.

Thierry Neuville improved throughout the warm-up, finally securing second with a time of 04:36.1 in his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, while Ott Tänak also in the Hyundai completed the top three finishes with a time of 04:36.4, just 1.9 seconds behind Rovanperä. Takamoto Katsuta, another Toyota driver, placed fourth at 04:38.0, with Adrien Fourmaux rounding out the top five with a time of 04:36.7.

In a notable development, the WRC drivers have agreed to limit their comments at stage ends this weekend in protest against a €10,000 fine issued to Adrien Fourmaux for inappropriate language during Rally Sweden. Neuville commented on this decision, expressing disappointment over the lack of communication with the FIA following the incident, stating that finishes will be the only time they communicate, except for the longest stage.

Grégoire Munster ranked sixth in his Ford Puma Rally1, narrowly edging out championship leader Elfyn Evans, who placed seventh. Other competitors, Joshua McErlean and Sami Pajari, also managed to finish in the top ten, showcasing a competitive field at the rally.

Here are the shakedown results for the top ten positions:
1. Kalle Rovanperä / Jonne Halttunen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1: 04:34.5
2. Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe – Hyundai i20 N Rally1: 04:36.1
3. Ott Tänak / Martin Järveoja – Hyundai i20 N Rally1: 04:36.4
4. Adrien Fourmaux / Alex Coria – Hyundai i20 N Rally1: 04:36.7
5. Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1: 04:38.0
6. Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka – Ford Puma Rally1: 04:39.7
7. Elfyn Evans / Scott Martin – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1: 04:40.8
8. Joshua McErlean / Eoin Treacy – Ford Puma Rally1: 04:44.2
9. Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2: 04:47.1
10. Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1: 04:48.5

Rovanperä’s impressive performance in the Safari Rally Kenya’s shakedown indicates a return to form after a tough start to the season. With strategic decisions regarding communication among the drivers and competitive times established in the shakedown, the rally promises to be highly competitive. Notably, the actions regarding Fourmaux’s fine show solidarity among the drivers, pointing to the intense atmosphere within the WRC despite the challenges.

Original Source: www.wrc.com