Safari Rally Kenya Commences with Tänak in the Lead Amid Early Challenges

President Ruto launched the Safari Rally Kenya, with Ott Tänak leading after an impressive performance. Elfyn Evans set the initial pace, but a misstep by Takamoto Katsuta cost him the lead. Adrien Fourmaux faced technical difficulties but plans to return for more points. The event continues on Friday with challenging stages ahead.

President William Ruto officially launched the Safari Rally Kenya, flagging off the leading crews in the Kenyan capital before they proceeded to the nearby Kasarani Stadium for a super special stage. The event attracted thousands of fans eager to witness the World Rally Championship (WRC) stars in action, before transitioning to the newly designed Mzabibu test located just ten kilometers from the rally base in Naivasha.

Elfyn Evans, the championship leader, initially set the pace at Kasarani. However, Ott Tänak made a remarkable comeback in SS2, overtaking from fourth place to claim the lead with a commanding performance on the more intricate stage, finishing the day 2.4 seconds ahead of Takamoto Katsuta. Grégoire Munster of M-Sport Ford was just two-tenths of a second behind Katsuta.

Tänak expressed confidence in the following stages, stating, “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, could have claimed the lead if not for missteps in SS2, where he lost time recovering from running wide. Kalle Rovanperä and Elfyn Evans rounded out the top five, while Hyundai’s Adrien Fourmaux encountered difficulties as his engine failed to start during regroup after SS1.

Thierry Neuville, Fourmaux’s team-mate and defending champion, also faced challenges, dealing with technical issues on his i20 N Rally1 that left him in eighth place behind Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari. The action is set to continue on Friday morning with six stages scheduled, starting with the 31.40km Camp Moran test, a significant challenge for the competitors.

Despite his early retirement, Fourmaux plans to return on Friday morning, aiming to recover as many points from the remaining stages as possible. He remarked, “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.”

Explaining the difficulties faced, the French driver noted, “We have an electrical issue, the battery is completely dead. We managed to jump start the car, but after 10 seconds the car stops and dies. It’s really frustrating, but there’s nothing else we can do.”

The launch of Safari Rally Kenya by President Ruto marked an exciting beginning, with Tänak emerging as a strong leader after a thrilling performance. Despite setbacks for some competitors like Fourmaux, the rally promises intense competition with challenging stages ahead. The return of Fourmaux aims to secure points amid difficulties, emphasizing the unpredictable nature of rally events. As the rally progresses, it will showcase the resilience and skill of the drivers.

Original Source: www.wrc.com