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Kalle Rovanpera continues to lead Safari Rally Kenya amid chaos, as teammates and rivals face setbacks, punctures, and mechanical issues on treacherous terrain.
Kalle Rovanpera continues to dominate the 2024 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya maintaining his lead with a performance that echoes his world champion status.
However, the rally was not short of action and drama, particularly among his Toyota teammates, Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta, who faced significant setbacks on Saturday morning.
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16:32 - 30.03.2024
MOTORSPORTS Why Hyundai faces uphill battle in Safari Rally against Toyota's reign
Hyundai struggles to match Toyota's performance at the Safari Rally amid mechanical issues and challenging terrain.
The rugged terrains of Soysambu delivered a harsh reality check to several teams, with Evans bearing the brunt of it early in the day.
Evans, Toyota's prime contender for the drivers' championship, encountered a rear-left puncture that forced him to halt and change the tyre, costing him almost two minutes.
"The Soysambu stage was a rough wake-up call," he commented on the incident.
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21:30 - 29.03.2024
Safari Rally: Kalle Rovanpera seizes lead with spectacular performance on second day
Two-time World Rally Championship Kalle Rovanpera lead a Toyota 1-2-3 to a dominant performance as the Safari Rally entered Day Two on Good Friday.
The troubles for Toyota did not end there, as Katsuta suffered a front-right puncture on the Sleeping Warrior stage. Unlike Evans, Katsuta chose to press on, losing a minute to his rivals.
These mishaps allowed Thierry Neuville, the sole Hyundai driver left in contention after a challenging Friday, to climb to second place.
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17:02 - 28.03.2024
Neuville nips Tanak in WRC Safari Rally Kenya opener amid Nairobi fervor
Hyundai and Toyota lead Safari Rally Kenya, with Hyundai narrowly ahead in opening stage at Kasarani.
Despite moving up, Neuville did not escape the Sleeping Warrior stage unscathed, driving over a stone and damaging his car.
"Just before the finish, we drove over a stone and bent something, making the car difficult to drive," Neuville explained.
Evans' day went from bad to worse when he encountered another puncture on Sleeping Warrior, losing an additional 30 seconds.
"We were trying to be smooth and slow, but it was difficult to make it through," he lamented.
The sequence of events has reshaped the leaderboard, with Katsuta now 55 seconds behind Neuville in third place.
Adrien Fourmaux of M-Sport found himself in fourth place, benefiting from a relatively trouble-free morning loop.
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11:37 - 28.03.2024
Safari Rally: Skoda driver Oliver Solberg hit with suspended fine over social media misstep
Safari Rally stewards have penalized the Sweden-born driver for off-track conduct amidst his strong performance in WRC2 class.
Evans' second puncture significantly impacted his standing, leaving him trailing Fourmaux by 53.2 seconds as they headed to the midday service.
M-Sport's rally was further dampened by Grégoire Munster's retirement on the road section between Soysambu and Elmenteita.
After clipping a rock hidden in a bush and breaking the left-rear driveshaft and links, Munster attempted a roadside fix. Unfortunately, his efforts were in vain as he ran out of time, leading to his withdrawal from the day's competition.
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19:16 - 29.03.2024
Kenyan driver faces Safari Rally ejection after breaching tyre rules
The local rally ace faces potential ejection from the ongoing WRC Safari Rally after violating WRC rules relating to the use of tyres at the global event.
The rally also saw the return of Ott Tanak and Esapekka Lappi under super rally conditions, though both drivers encountered their own challenges.
Tanak faced several undisclosed issues with his i20 N Rally1, including an intercom failure on Elmenteita, forcing co-driver Martin Järveoja to resort to hand signals. Both Hyundais suffered punctures on Sleeping Warrior, adding to the day's drama.
In the WRC2 category, Gus Greensmith holds the sixth overall position despite a puncture on Soysambu and health issues. "I'm still feeling unwell but pressing on regardless," Greensmith stated, showcasing the resilience typical of rally drivers.
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14:11 - 28.03.2024
Vroom! President Ruto flags off WRC Safari Rally in bid to break viewer records
President William Ruto has flagged off the 71st WRC Safari Rally in Nairobi, aiming for record viewership and celebrating Kenya's motorsport heritage.
Sandwiched between the leading WRC2 contenders, Jourdan Serderidis secured seventh overall, with Oliver Solberg trailing closely behind in eighth, 21.5 seconds adrift of the Ford Puma driver.
The Safari Rally Kenya continues to test the mettle of drivers and teams alike with Rovanpera leading the charge amidst the chaos unfolding behind him.
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