Photo: Twitter/@thierryneuville
The 2023 WRC Safari Rally officially kicked off yesterday with the Kasarani Super Special two-at-a-time at the northeast of Nairobi downtown. Eager rally spectators and curious city folk struggled for every opportunity for a vantage point to witness the rawness of the 70th season of the WRC Safari rally.
During last season's Kasarani Super Special two-at-a-time event, Sebastien Ogier and Sebastien Loeb gave a spectacular performance, with Frenchman Toyota Gazoo driver Ogier drawing first blood, followed by Hyundai Motorsport, Belgian rally driver Thierry Neuville, and third Ford M-Sport driver Ott Tanak.
The 70th edition of the WRC Safari rally wasn't different, with M-Sport Ford's Ott Tanak claiming the quickest time through the purpose-built 4.84-kilometer (3 miles) stage, 0.1 seconds faster than Toyota Gazoo's Ogier. 2022 WRC Safari Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera finished third, 2.4 seconds after the lead.
Thierry Neuville, the best of his Hyundai Motorsport team, came in fourth overall, with Toyota Gazoo's Elfyn Evans rounding out the top five performances. Neuville surprised everyone earlier in the year after vaulting from fifth to second winning the Rally of Sardinia in a showstopping one-two Hyundai finish, closely followed by teammate Esapekka Lappi 32 seconds later.
Esapekka Lappi and Takamoto Katsuta came outside the top five at the Kasarani Super Special after suffering setbacks during Wednesday's warm-up stage in Naivasha. Katsuka escaped unharmed after a roll, while Lappi experienced a mechanical issue after his Hyundai i20 N broke a propeller shaft.
While the Super Special stage offers a glimpse of the drivers, crews, and manufacturers' skills, performance, and competence, the preceding stages, out in the boonies, will determine who takes the 2023 crown.
Friday kicks off with the opening leg with a 125.54 -kilometer (78 miles) endurance stretch that covers the north and south section of the scenic Great Rift Valley Lake Naivasha. It'll begin with Loldia 19.17 kilometer (12 miles) stage, then the Geothermal 13.12 kilometers (8 miles), and 30 kilometers (19 miles) Kendong stage.
Kasarani Super Special winner believes the rally will be decided on the second last day (Saturday), and he is right. Saturday hosts the most extended and grueling leg of the event spanning 150.88 kilometers (94 miles) through Soysambu, Lake Elementaita, and finally, the iconic Sleeping Warrior stage.
"Safari Rally Kenya is a demanding one. Let's see after Saturday. I would say this day will tell us a lot," M-Sport Ford driver Ott Tanak said after emerging quickest at the Kasarani Super Special event.
Friday's stages began at 08:00 local time, with the first of the stipulated six stages. Based on the 2022 performance, the 30-kilometer (19 miles) Kendong stage will be the longest and most challenging of stages for the day. It will make up the morning and afternoon finale stages.
This season's stages will be more taxing than last year, thanks to moody weather. Drivers should expect more mud baths, skiddy surfaces, and – of course, more wildlife crossing.
The 70th edition of the WRC Safari rally wasn't different, with M-Sport Ford's Ott Tanak claiming the quickest time through the purpose-built 4.84-kilometer (3 miles) stage, 0.1 seconds faster than Toyota Gazoo's Ogier. 2022 WRC Safari Rally champion Kalle Rovanpera finished third, 2.4 seconds after the lead.
Thierry Neuville, the best of his Hyundai Motorsport team, came in fourth overall, with Toyota Gazoo's Elfyn Evans rounding out the top five performances. Neuville surprised everyone earlier in the year after vaulting from fifth to second winning the Rally of Sardinia in a showstopping one-two Hyundai finish, closely followed by teammate Esapekka Lappi 32 seconds later.
Esapekka Lappi and Takamoto Katsuta came outside the top five at the Kasarani Super Special after suffering setbacks during Wednesday's warm-up stage in Naivasha. Katsuka escaped unharmed after a roll, while Lappi experienced a mechanical issue after his Hyundai i20 N broke a propeller shaft.
While the Super Special stage offers a glimpse of the drivers, crews, and manufacturers' skills, performance, and competence, the preceding stages, out in the boonies, will determine who takes the 2023 crown.
Friday kicks off with the opening leg with a 125.54 -kilometer (78 miles) endurance stretch that covers the north and south section of the scenic Great Rift Valley Lake Naivasha. It'll begin with Loldia 19.17 kilometer (12 miles) stage, then the Geothermal 13.12 kilometers (8 miles), and 30 kilometers (19 miles) Kendong stage.
Kasarani Super Special winner believes the rally will be decided on the second last day (Saturday), and he is right. Saturday hosts the most extended and grueling leg of the event spanning 150.88 kilometers (94 miles) through Soysambu, Lake Elementaita, and finally, the iconic Sleeping Warrior stage.
"Safari Rally Kenya is a demanding one. Let's see after Saturday. I would say this day will tell us a lot," M-Sport Ford driver Ott Tanak said after emerging quickest at the Kasarani Super Special event.
Friday's stages began at 08:00 local time, with the first of the stipulated six stages. Based on the 2022 performance, the 30-kilometer (19 miles) Kendong stage will be the longest and most challenging of stages for the day. It will make up the morning and afternoon finale stages.
This season's stages will be more taxing than last year, thanks to moody weather. Drivers should expect more mud baths, skiddy surfaces, and – of course, more wildlife crossing.
SSS1 Kasarani 1 (4,84 km): STAGE WIN!
— Ott Tänak (@OttTanak) June 22, 2023
????"Safari Rally Kenya is a demanding one. Let's see after Saturday. I would say this day will tell us a lot."
1?? TÄNAK 3:14.3 ????
2?? Ogier +0.1
3?? Rovanperä +2.4
4?? Neuville +2.7
5?? Evans +3.3#SafariRallyKenya #goOtt pic.twitter.com/1nDVTQI5BM
Google News