Kalle Rovanpera, driving for Toyota Gazoo Racing, emerged as the champion of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2024. It was his second victory in the Safari Rally Kenya, and he secured a dominant win with a comfortable lead. Rovanpera’s teammate, Takamoto Katsuta, finished in imo second place, ensuring a 1-2 finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing. Adrien Fourmaux from M-Sport Ford completed the podium in third place.
Rovanpera had been leading the rally since Friday morning and extended his lead to a remarkable 1 minute and 37.8 seconds by the end of the event. This victory marked Rovanpera’s 12th career win. After the race, Rovanpera expressed his delight at winning in Kenya and referenced the popular saying, “the car in front is always a Toyota,” which holds significance in Africa.
Throughout the rally, Rovanpera maintained a substantial lead, particularly after winning all of Friday’s challenging stages around Lake Naivasha. Thierry Neuville posed a threat initially, but his chances were hampered by a fuel system issue in his Hyundai i20 N during the first stage at Soysambu on Sunday afternoon. Neuville lost over two-and-a-half minutes while resolving the problem, allowing Katsuta to secure the runner-up spot ahead of Fourmaux.
The next event in the World Rally Championship is the Croatia Rally, scheduled to take place from April 18 to 21. The rally will be held on asphalt and will be based in the capital city of Zagreb.
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