Safari Rally Kenya: Ruto Flags Off Event as Tänak Takes Commanding Lead
President Ruto launched the Safari Rally Kenya, attracting thousands of fans. Tänak took an early lead after SS2, while Katsuta and Fourmaux experienced setbacks. The challenge resumes with a critical stage on Friday morning as competitors aim to recover points amid technical difficulties.
President William Ruto officially started the Safari Rally Kenya, flagging the leading crews in the Kenyan capital before they proceeded to Kasarani Stadium for an exciting super special stage. The event attracted thousands of fans vying to witness the World Rally Championship (WRC) contenders in action, shifting afterwards to the new Mzabibu stage near Naivasha.
Championship leader Elfyn Evans initially set a strong pace in Kasarani; however, Ott Tänak showcased remarkable skill in Stage 2, moving from fourth to first place with a 2.4-second lead over Takamoto Katsuta. Grégoire Munster of M-Sport Ford Puma followed closely behind. Tänak remarked, “For me, it was all fine. I think the first stage tomorrow will show quite a lot. It’s super tricky, very demanding and long at the same time. I think the whole day will be quite a big show.”
Katsuta, a three-time podium finisher in Kenya, faced challenges in SS2 that cost him valuable time after running wide on a corner. His team-mates, Kalle Rovanperä and Evans, rounded out the top five. In contrast, Adrien Fourmaux from Hyundai encountered difficulties that forced him out of SS2 due to an engine failure after regrouping.
Thierry Neuville, Fourmaux’s team-mate and defending champion, also struggled with technical issues on his i20 N Rally1, leaving him in eighth place behind competitors Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari. The rally resumes on Friday morning, starting with a highly challenging 31.40km Camp Moran test.
Despite retiring early, Fourmaux intends to return for Friday’s stages, aiming to gather as many points as possible throughout the remainder of the event. He stated, “It’s the type of rally where we can still score some points, even after retiring on the first day. It’s not ideal, but we are going to try to get the best that we can.” Additionally, he explained the technical struggles he faced: “We have an electrical issue, the battery is completely dead… It’s really frustrating, but there’s nothing else we can do.”
The Safari Rally Kenya commenced with President Ruto’s official launch, attracting significant fan enthusiasm. Initial performances were dominated by Tänak, who overtook competitors with strong stage runs, amidst notable struggles from Fourmaux and Neuville. The rally will continue on Friday with hope for recovery from the early setbacks, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of rally racing.
Original Source: www.wrc.com
