Neuville tops Kasarani Super Special Stage as Tundo leads Kenyan charge

FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) leader Thierry Neuville held a slender 0.1-second overnight lead over his Hyundai Motorsport teammate Ott Tanak as the iconic WRC Safari Rally got underway in Nairobi Thursday.

Thousands of fans descended on the opening Super Special Stage at Kasarani and earlier at Kenyatta International Convention Centre to cheer on the WRC superstars and their local star drivers being flagged off by President William Samoei Ruto.

Neuville, driving a Hyundai i20 N Rally1 Hybrid, was elated by a good start in Kenya: “I feel good with the car at the moment and it’s always good to start a rally like this. It’s still early days, but I know it’s going to be a challenging event. So, fingers crossed, I hope we get through without any problems.”

The 2019 World Rally Champion, Estonian Ott Tänak and his partner Järveoja Martin completed a scintillating Hyundai 1-2 finish on Kasarani’s twin-stage which treated local spectators to some exhilarating displays of Rally1 Hybrid artistry.

Tanak commented: “It’s a tough rally. The first thing in my mind is to get through without trouble.”

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans came in third ahead of his Japanese teammate and darling of Kenyan fans Takamoto Katsuta, who had his pace-notes called by Irish star Johnston Aaron.

Asked about his blistering day in the office, Taka quipped: “The fight for the elusive Safari title continues! Let’s see, it will be an interesting weekend though. We will do our best.”

Five-time ARC Safari Rally winner and local hero Carl Tundo (Ford Fiesta Rally 2) led the Kenyan onslaught in 16th ahead of FIA African Rally Champion Karan Patel who returned  17th fastest. Tundo said: “We are good to go on Friday. We hope the Easter rains will open the food gates.”

Kenya’s 2023 Junior WRC contender Hamza Anwar ran third fastest time among Kenyans (and 20th)in an M-Sport prepared Ford Fiesta Rally3. Kenyan series leader Samman Singh Vohra (Skoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) had to contend with playing second fiddle to his compatriots after he was slapped a 0:10 second penalty for a jump start.

Friday Itinerary

Stage 2: Loidia 1

Stage 3:Geothermal 1

Stage4:Kedong 1

Stage 5: Loidia 2

Stage 6: Geothermal 2

Stage 7: Kedong 2

Day One Leader-board

1. Neuville Thierry/Wydaeghe M. (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:19.9

2. Tänak Ott/Järveoja Martin (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:20.0

3. Rovanperä Kalle/Halttunen J. (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:20.7

4. Katsuta Takamoto/Johnston Aaron (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:20.8

5. Lappi Esapekka - Ferm Janne (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 3:21.4

6. Evans Elfyn/Martin Scott (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3:21.6

7. Fourmaux Adrien/Coria Alexandre (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:22.1

8. Greensmith Gus/Andersson Jonas Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:26.5

9. Munster Grégoire/Louka Louis (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:28.5

10. Solberg Oliver/Edmondson E.(Škoda Fabia RS Rally2)  3:29.3

11. Kajetanowicz/Szczepaniak M. Škoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:29.6

12. Ciamin Nicolas/Roche Yannick (Hyundai i20 N Rally2)   3:33.5

13. Domínguez Diego Jr/Peñate R. (Citroën C3 Rally2) 3:36.1

14. Serderidis Jourdan/Miclotte F. (Ford Puma Rally1) 3:37.1

15. Chwist Daniel/ Heller Kamil (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) 3:38.0 +18.1

16. Tundo Carl/Jessop Tim (Ford Fiesta R5)  3:42.9

17. Patel Karan/Khan Tauseef (Skoda Fabia R5) 3:43.4

18. Díaz-Aboitiz Miguel/Sanjuan D. (Skoda Fabia Rally2 evo) 3:43.9

19. Munster Charles - Dumont Loïc (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) 3:46.0

20. Anwar Hamza/Din Adnan (Ford Fiesta Rally3) 3:49.0

21. Nasser Yasin/Katumba Ali (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 3:49.1

22. Vasilakis George/Krawszik Tom (Ford Fiesta Rally2) 3:50.8

23. Muiruri Andrew/Njoroge Edward (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) 4:07.2

24. Sachania Nikhil/Patel Deep (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X ) 4:08.5

25. Virani Aakif/Shah Zahir (Škoda Fabia R5) 4:12.2

26. Garosci Riccardo/Briani Rudy (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X) 4:18.1

27. Rathod Minesh/Noble Gordon (Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X R4) 4:30.1

28. Singh Vohra Samman/Khan Alfir (Škoda Fabia Rally2 Evo) 11:20.9