The FIA World Rally Championship roared back into action as Kalle Rovanperä stormed to the fastest time in Wednesday morning’s Safari Rally Kenya shakedown.
After a challenging start to the season – failing to crack the top five in the first two rounds – the two-time world champion signaled a potential return to form on the WRC’s first gravel test of the year. With two Safari victories already to his name, the Finn wasted no time reminding everyone of his prowess on Africa’s punishing terrain.
Rovanperä’s opening run through the rough and rocky 5.16km warm-up stage put his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on top, clocking 1.6sec quicker than Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1, who improved on his final pass to snatch second. Ott Tänak, also in a Hyundai, completed the top three, 1.9sec off the benchmark.
Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta slotted into fourth, 3.5sec adrift of his teammate, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five.
Neuville revealed that WRC drivers will limit their stage-end comments this weekend in protest of the €10,000 fine handed to Fourmaux for swearing during last month’s Rally Sweden.
“There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” said the Belgian. “We are disappointed not to have had more communication with the FIA since Sweden and Adrien’s fine. Unanimously, we have decided not to communicate at the finish – except at the finish of the longest stage.”
Grégoire Munster led the charge for M-Sport Ford, placing sixth in his Puma Rally1. He edged out championship leader Elfyn Evans, while Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari also featured in the top ten.
