Toyota won in Kenya for the fourth year after the return of the Safari rally to the WRC series. Frenchman Sébastien Ogier, who dominated the legendary competition in 2021 and last year, alternates with Rovanperä in triumphs. Both champions will only take part in selected races this year, and the start in Africa fell to the Finnish defending champion. Twenty-three-year-old Rovanperä won seven of the 19 special stages in Kenya this time, of which he completely dominated Friday’s program of the first stage with six partial triumphs, and claimed the twelfth victory of his career.
“It’s always extremely challenging here, so it’s always an extraordinary achievement. This is a legendary competition for Toyota, we have always done well here. We did a good job, we drove smart and thanks to the team for all the help,” said Rovanperä.
Kacuta equaled the Kenyan maximum from 2021 with the second place, he was third the year before and is still waiting for the first victory of his career. Fourmaux’s reliable driving made Toyota’s absolute triumph impossible. The fourth British Elfyn Evans, who is the number one of the Japanese brand, finished two minutes short of him, but his chances of a better result in Kenya were mainly ruined by two punctures on Saturday.
“I’m excited, we didn’t have any problems with the car all weekend, it works. It’s the work of the team, I dedicate this podium to him,” rejoiced the 28-year-old Frenchman, who continues to hold third place in the World Championship standings behind world vice-champion Evans.
Neuville paid for the big technical problems from Saturday. In the last stage, the Belgian claimed three partial triumphs, including the final, extra-scoring power stage, in which his teammates, Estonian Ott Tänak and Finnish Esapekka Lappi, lined up behind him. Even they were already without a chance for a leading position. Ex-world champion Tänak finished eighth, Lappi outside the top ten in twelfth place. Neuville leads the championship by six points ahead of Evans, Fourmaux has another 15 points less.
Safari rally Kenya, event of the world championship in car competitions:1. Rovanperä, Halttunen (Fin./Toyota Yaris) 3:36:04.02. Kacuta, Johnston (Japan, Ireland/ Toyota Yaris) -1:37.83. Fourmaux, Coria (Fr./Ford Puma) -2:25.14. Evans, Martin (Britain/Toyota Yaris) -4:20.25. Neuville, Wydaeghe (Belg./Hyundai i20) -10:17.56. Greensmith, Andersson (Brit., Swed./Skoda Fabia RS) -18:05.4 World standings (after 3 out of 13 races): 1. Neuville 672. Evans 613. Fourmaux 464. Tänak (Est./Hyundai) 335. Rovanperä 316. Kacuta 30
