WRC – Breaking news – Kalle Rovanperä secures commanding victory at the Safari Rally

2024 Safari Rally Kenya – Sunday

Kalle Rovanperä turned a two-time winner of Safari Rally Kenya on Sunday afternoon, ending the gruelling African fixture with a 1m 37.8s victory margin having led since Friday morning.

In by far probably the most gruelling FIA World Rally Championship spherical to date this season, it was Rovanperä’s meticulous steadiness of each velocity and maturity that in the end secured his twelfth profession victory.

The Finn, co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, constructed a lead of just about one minute after profitable all of Friday’s rock-strewn levels round Lake Naivasha, then saved his nostril clear to finish Saturday two minutes clear because the chasing pack bumped into mechanical troubles and tyre harm.

That buffer allowed the two-time WRC champion to drive for a end in Sunday’s ultimate leg, which culminated amid beautiful surroundings at Hell’s Gate with Kenyan President William Ruto in attendance.

Takamoto Katstuta accomplished a Toyota GR Yaris 1-2 because the Japanese marque prolonged its producers’ championship result in 4 factors over Hyundai Motorsport, whereas M-Sport Ford Puma hotshot Adrien Fourmaux bagged his second consecutive podium 47.3s behind.

“It’s all the time particular to win right here,” Rovanperä beamed. “Additionally, a legendary occasion for Toyota. We’ve all the time been so good right here and that’s persevering with. Like they are saying in Africa: the automobile in entrance is all the time a Toyota!*

“A giant because of the group, everyone made a giant effort to make the automobile work so nicely. I feel me and Jonne did an excellent job, I don’t suppose you may have a greater Safari Rally than we did. No points, intelligent driving and I feel it was an excellent effort.”

Elfyn Evans ended Friday in competition for a podium however a fraught Saturday, which noticed the Welshman cease twice to hold out stage-side wheel modifications, meant he completed over 4 minutes again from his team-mate Rovanperä in fourth general. He stays second within the drivers’ championship behind chief Thierry Neuville, who trailed him by nearly six minutes in fifth.

Neuville now heads Evans by six factors however endured a difficult week aboard his Hyundai i20 N. Gas strain issues on Saturday value the Belgian a number of minutes and suspension harm on Sunday, inflicted by a rock on the racing line, added insult to damage. His colleagues, Esapekka Lappi and Ott Tänak fared worse.

Lappi’s issues included two damaged gearboxes over the course of the week whereas Tänak might solely climb again to eighth general behind WRC2 runners Gus Greensmith and Oliver Solberg after his automobile sustained damaged suspension on Friday.

Finishing the highest 10 had been gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis in a Puma and Škoda Fabia Rally2 star Kajetan Kajetanowicz.

The WRC returns to asphalt for subsequent month’s Croatia Rally which takes place from 18 – 21 April. The occasion relies in capital metropolis Zagreb.