Rallying-Rovanpera Dominates First Leg Of Safari Rally In Toyota 1-2-3

Double world champion Kalle Rovenpera led a Toyota one-two-three after dominating the opening leg of Safari Rally Kenya on Friday.

The Finn, who’s competing solely part-time this season, received all six of the day’s levels to take a 56.9 second lead over Elfyn Evans with Takamoto Katsuta in third place.

“It has been a extremely good day for us,” stated Rovanpera of the tough gravel levels round Lake Naivasha. “I felt I may handle the tempo fairly nicely.

“I used to be fairly joyful pushing laborious when the situations had been good, after which particularly this afternoon taking good care of the automobile and the tyres within the tough locations and nonetheless we may have good occasions.”

Hyundai’s Espekka Lappi and Ott Tanak each retired, the primary with a transmission failure and the latter after breaking his automobile’s steering when he hit a rock and pitched into an earth financial institution whereas operating in second place.

Championship chief Thierry Neuville, who was quickest in Thursday’s brief opening stage, dropped to fourth place in his Hyundai after struggling tyre injury within the morning however coming again strongly within the afternoon.

“I attempted to push as a lot as I may however it was a difficult day. Clearly the puncture made us lose numerous time,” stated the Belgian.

M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux was in fifth place with group mate Gregoire Munster sixth.

Saturday, the longest day of the rally, options one other six levels and a complete aggressive distance of 160.96km, with rain forecast.

“If some massive rain comes we all know that the gaps might be enormous and you’ll lose numerous time,” stated Rovanpera. “So we’ll simply attempt to carry on working the identical means as we did as we speak.”

(This story has not been edited by News18 workers and is printed from a syndicated information company feed – Reuters)