World championship leader Thierry Neuville took a slight lead, 0.1 seconds, over his Hyundai teammate Ott Tänak after winning the opening special of the Safari Rally Kenya. Just one tenth in the 4.84 km of the KasaraniWhile reigning champion Kalle Rovanperä set the third fastest time, just 0.7 seconds behind the Belgian.
After two failed missions in Kenya Neuville is well aware that the going will get tougher from tomorrow onwards:
“It will be a challenging event. Fingers crossed that this time we can race without any technical problems or errors. I think we are well prepared and I feel good in the car, so it’s always nice to start a rally like the Safari in this way”
The Safari is the race where Takamoto Katsuta collected two of its four WRC podiums. In the initial special the Japanese lost only 0.9 seconds, recording the fourth best time ahead of rival Hyundai Esapekka Lappi, fifth. Elfyn Evanscurrently second in the World Championship standings, has arrived sixth with his Toyota, closely followed by the young man from M-Sport Adrien Fourmaux, seventh.
Gus Greensmith, on the other hand, set the pace in WRC2conquering theeighth place overall on a Škoda Fabia RS, while Grégoire Munster and Oliver Solberg completed the overall Top 10.
The provisional race leader in WRC2 Greensmith is aiming to get his World Rally Championship season off to a strong start at the Safari Rally Kenya, his first opportunity of the season to score points in a Toksport Škoda Fabia RS Rally2. Keen to build on last season’s experience in WRC2 is confident but aware that the Safari Rally Kenya, already tackled twice, presents a unique set of obstacles:
“It is certainly the toughest and bumpiest rally on the calendar, with rocks and mud that are the slipperiest of the season. It is probably the only rally where we have to consciously slow down and preserve the car to bring it to the finish line successfully. It’s important to find a balance between car management and speed, pushing hard.”
Greensmith is under the same tent as Oliver Solberg, current Championship leader, teammates in Toksport. Among the challengers are the Frenchman Nicolas Ciaminmaking his debut in the Safari Rally at the wheel of a Hyundai i20 N Rally2, Charles Munsterdriving the same car, the Pole Kajetan Kajetanowicz And Daniel Chwist. Local drivers should also be kept an eye on Carl Tundo And Karan Patelreigning African champion, both aiming for the podium.
This one provisional ranking of the race:
The action resumes tomorrow with six specials scheduled. The biggest challenge will be the 31.50km Kedong test, which forms the final part of the morning and afternoon ride.
Source: FIA WRC – www.fiawrc.com
