PuraVida Sports

Naivasha:

The FIA World Rally Championship roared back into action as Kalle Rovanpera stormed to the fastest time in Wednesday morning’s Safari Rally Kenya shakedown ahead of Thursday’s official flag-off in Nairobi.

After a challenging start to the season – failing to crack the top five in the first two rounds – the two-time world champion signaled a potential return to form on the WRC’s first gravel test of the year. 

With two Safari victories already to his name, the Finn wasted no time reminding everyone of his prowess on Africa’s punishing terrain.

Rovanpera’s opening run through the rough and rocky 5.16-kilometre warm-up stage put his Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 on top, clocking 1.6 secondsquicker than Thierry Neuville’s Hyundai i20 N Rally1, who improved on his final pass to snatch second. Ott Tanak, also in a Hyundai, completed the top three, 1.9 seconds off the benchmark.

Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta slotted into fourth, 3.5seconds adrift of his teammate, while Adrien Fourmaux rounded out the top five.

Neuville revealed that WRC drivers will limit their stage-end comments this weekend in protest of the €10,000 fine handed to Fourmaux for swearing during last month’s Rally Sweden.

“There will be very little communication from us this weekend,” said the Belgian. 

“We are disappointed not to have had more communication with the FIA since Sweden and Adrien’s fine. Unanimously, we have decided not to communicate at the finish – except at the finish of the longest stage.”

Gregoire Munster led the charge for M-Sport Ford, placing sixth in his Puma Rally1. He edged out championship leader Elfyn Evans, while Josh McErlean and Sami Pajari also featured in the top 10.

Meanwhile, Toyota GAZOO Racing reaches a milestone by making its 100th FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) start at this weekend’s Safari Rally Kenya.

But there’ll be no time for easy celebrations as the African classic hosts round three of the 2025 season.

Regarded as the toughest test in WRC, Safari Rally Kenya is the first gravel event of the year and takes place in the stunning Great Rift Valley, where lions, leopards, giraffes and zebras roam just metres from the action.

There’s no more fitting place for Toyota’s century milestone. Since the Safari returned to the WRC calendar in 2021, the Japanese marque has dominated – and it arrives in Kenya in supreme form, having achieved perfect scores on the opening two rounds. But, even for the reigning champions, this year’s fixture will be anything but straightforward.

It’s a rally of extremes. Long, flat-out straights where speeds exceed 200kph are followed by deep ruts and rocky tracks that force cars to a crawl. 

Snorkels are a crucial addition for deep water crossings, a necessity across the 384 competitive kilometres which make it the longest route of the season.

Toyota’s Elfyn Evans leads the drivers’ standings by 28 points heading into the rally, though the Welshman is yet to conquer its unique challenge. 

Team-mate Kalle Rovanpera has taken two victories here, while Takamoto Katsuta has finished on the podium three times. 

Finnish rookie Sami Pajari also pilots a GR Yaris Rally1, running in the team’s second-string squad.

“The Safari is a unique rally with a special set of conditions to face,” said Evans.

“It’s not easy even if it’s dry, but when you add the likelihood of rain and standing water, it can be a huge challenge just to get to the end. This has been an amazing rally for the team over recent years and while it’s not perhaps been my strongest event personally, we want to aim as high as possible and challenge for the win if it’s possible.”

Adding another layer of intrigue, Hankook’s new Dynapro R213 gravel tyre will be making its WRC debut in some of the most punishing conditions on the calendar.

Defending champion Thierry Neuville, currently fourth in the standings, is ready to play the long game, with the Belgian and his Hyundai Motorsport colleagues Ott Tanak and Adrien Fourmaux reverting to older-spec i20 N Rally1 cars for this round in pursuit of reliability.

“We need to have a clever drive,” insisted Neuville. 

“Taking care of the car and staying away from trouble will be key to that. Obviously, you need a bit of luck, but hopefully it’s going to work this year.”

British outfit M-Sport Ford fields three Puma Rally1 cars, with Grégoire Munster and Josh McErlean leading the charge alongside gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis.

The action kicks off in Nairobi on Thursday morning before heading into 21 brutal special stages around Lakes Naivasha and Elmenteita. (WRC.com)

WRC Safari Rally Shakedown Times:

1. Kalle Rovanpera / Jonne Haltunnen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 04:34.5;

2. Thierry Neuville / Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 04:36.1;

3. Ott Tanak / Martin Jarveola (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 04:36.4;

4. Adrien Fourmaux / Alex Coria (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) 04:36.7;

5. Takamoto Katsuta / Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 04:38.0;

6. Grégoire Munster / Louis Louka (Ford Puma Rally1) 04:39.7;

7. Elfyn EVANS / Scott MARTIN (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 04:40.8;

8. Joshua Mcerlean / Eoin Treacy (Ford Puma Rally1) 04:44.2;

9. Oliver Solberg / Elliott Edmondson (Toyota GR Yaris Rally2) 04:47.1;

10. Sami Pajari / Marko Salminen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 04:48.5.

All Photos by NICHOLAS MUGAMBI