© EPA-EFE
Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) won the first special stage in the Safari Rally on Thursday afternoon. The World Cup leader was 0.1 seconds faster than Ott Tänak (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) and 0.8 seconds than world champion Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris Rally 1).
Since the return of the Safari Rally to the WRC in 2021, the first special stage of the rally has remained the same. A 4.84 km special stage has been designed near the assistance zone, where the riders start side by side and each complete two laps. The course was dry with some large water puddles here and there where mainly local riders choked.
No problem for Thierry Neuville, who immediately set the fastest time. “This is a very challenging rally. 'Fingers crossed' that I will be spared any problems, technical setbacks and that I can remain error-free. I think we are well prepared. The feeling in the car is good and that is a good basis to start. But it is a long rally,” said Neuville at the finish.
© EPA-EFE
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.
The time differences with the other riders are very small. The top four are separated by 0.9 seconds. Lappi (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) and Evans (Toyota Yaris Rally) are fifth and sixth at 1.5 and 1.6 seconds respectively. Adrien Fourmaux (Ford Puma Rally1) is seventh. His teammate Grégoire Munster (Ford Puma Rally1) set the ninth fastest time, making him 8.6 seconds slower than the leader.
Jourdan Serderidis and Frederic Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1) set the 14th fastest time, 17.2 seconds behind Neuville. The debuting Charles Munster (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) made a mistake, but recovered well. The brother of Grégoire Munster makes his debut in the WRC with the 19th fastest time, 26.1 seconds behind leader Neuville.
This contains inserted content from a social media network that wants to write or read cookies. You have not given permission for this.