The sixth round of the WRC world championship officially opened with the Super Special Kasarani staged today, valid for the Safari Rally Kenya. On the 4.84 km track, located a short distance from the capital Nairobi, the Frenchman emerged on the first day Sebastien Ogier, returning after the absence in the last appointment in Sardinia. The eight-time world champion, at the wheel of his Toyota, in fact closed with the time of 3: 18.8with a gap of six tenths of the Belgian Thierry Neuville and confirming himself as the man to beat after the victory obtained here last edition.
The winner of the test held in Italy then appears on the virtual podium of the African stage, Ott Tänak, just over the second behind the first leader of the Safari Rally and a whisker ahead of the Welsh Elfyn Evans. Finally, on the soil of Kenya, another re-entrant closes the Top-5, also French and multi-world champion as Sebastien Loeb1.8 seconds behind his compatriot.
The one who immediately risked disaster was Kalle RovanperäIn fact, the Finn from Toyota went long at the first corner of the track, completely mistaking the braking point and even risking overturning. Fortunately, number 69 managed to get back on the road and cross the finish line regularly, even though he was 11 and a half seconds behind Ogier. A gap due not only to the dangerous exit, but also to the rear tire coming out of the rim. An error that testifies to the ‘severity’ of the African stages, which do not forgive the slightest mistake.
Safari Rally Kenya / Ranking after SS1 – Top 10
POS. | PILOT | CAR | TIME / GAP |
1 | S. OGIER | Toyota | 3: 18.8 |
2 | T. NEUVILLE | Hyundai | +0.6 |
3 | O. TÄNAK | Hyundai | +1.1 |
4 | E. EVANS | Toyota | +1.2 |
5 | S. LOEB | Ford | +1.8 |
6 | T. KATSUTA | Toyota | +1.9 |
7 | C. BREEN | Ford | +4.4 |
8 | G. GREENSMITH | Ford | +4.7 |
9 | O. SOLDBERG | Hyundai | +5.8 |
10 | A. FORMAUX | Ford | +7.1 |
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