As per tradition, it was Kasarani’s show test that opened the Kenya Safari Rally. Now in its 72nd edition, the African rally is the first WRC rally of the season on gravel. But, despite going from asphalt and snow to dirt and mud, once again the Hyundai i20N Rally1 proved to be the car to beat. The Korean team in fact conquered the first two positions, with Thierry Neuville and Ott Tänak beating the competition led by Kalle Rovanperä’s Toyota Yaris.
The championship leader Neuville stood out in the 4.84 timed km, obtained near Nairobi. The Belgian posted a time of 3’19”9, just one tenth behind his teammate Tänak, the latter having set the benchmark last year in the Kasarani special. Once the first stage has been scratched, Neuville will immediately have to concentrate for the rest of the rally. In fact, in tomorrow’s stage it will be the Belgian’s turn to lead the way, the objective will therefore be to not lose precious seconds to his pursuers.
Eight tenths of a second off the top, we find Rovanperä (pictured above). Despite maintaining careful driving, the reigning world champion was the fastest of the Toyota drivers. The Flying Finn actually got the better of teammate Takamoto Katsuta by just one tenth. Closing out the top 5 was Esapekka Lappi. Fresh from the victory in the Swedish Rally, the Finn however suffered a gap of a second and a half to the leader Neuville.
Elfyn Evans didn’t have the best start to the Safari. The Welshman from Toyota appeared too cautious in facing Kasarani’s PS, finishing only in sixth place. Ford’s Rally1s were at the rear of the WRCs. After obtaining his first world championship podium in Sweden, Adrien Fourmaux was unable to go beyond the seventh time, more than two seconds off the top. Gregoire Munster, ninth, and gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis outside the top 10 with his Puma fared no better.
Gus Greensmith (pictured above) confirmed himself as the fastest of the WRC2s. After setting the benchmark in yesterday’s Shakedown, the Englishman from Toksport WRT also established himself at the top at the end of the first special stage of the Kenya Rally. Greensmith finished with a margin of almost three seconds over teammate Oliver Solberg, penalized by the starting order. Completing the class podium, all Skoda branded, was the winner of the last two editions Kajetan Kajetanowicz. Of note is the carambola involving Samman Singh Vohra, who fortunately emerged unharmed from the cockpit of his Fabia Rally2.
Thursday 28 March 2024, ranking after SS1 (top 15)
1 – Neuville-Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20N Rally1) – Hyundai – 3’19″9
2 – Tanak-Jarveoja (Hyundai i20N Rally1) – Hyundai – 0″1
3 – Rovanpera-Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – Toyota – 0″8
4 – Katsuta-Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – Toyota – 0″9
5 – Lappi-Ferm (Hyundai i20N Rally1) – Hyundai – 1″5
6 – Evans-Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) – Toyota – 1″7
7 – Fourmaux-Coria (Ford Puma Rally1) – M Sport – 2″2
8 – Greensmith-Andersson (Skoda Fabia WRC2) – Toksport – 6″6
9 – Munster-Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) – M Sport – 8″6
10 – Solberg-Edmondson (Skoda Fabia WRC2) – Toksport – 9″4
11 – Kajetanowicz-Szczepaniak (Skoda Fabia WRC2) – Kajetanowicz – 9″7
12 – Ciamin-Roche (Hyundai i20N WRC2) – Ciamin – 13″6
13 – Dominguez-Penate (Citroen C3 WRC2) – Dominguez – 16″2
14 – Serderidis-Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1) – M Sport – 17″2
15 – Chwist-Heller (Skoda Fabia WRC2) – Chwist – 18″1
