Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20) finished in fifth place on Sunday in the Safari Rally in Kenya, the third round of the season in the World Rally Championship (WRC). The 35-year-old rally driver from Sankt Vith remains at the top of the World Cup standings. The victory in Kenya went to the Finnish two-time world champion Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota Yaris), who is driving a limited program this season.
Bron: BELGIAN
Since the return of the Safari Rally to the WRC, a Toyota has won each time. That tradition was also honored this year. After two victories by Sébastien Ogier, Rovanperä will now also win the rally for the second time after 2022. The Finn took over command from Neuville on Friday morning and held his ground until the end. Takamoto Katsuta (Toyota Yaris Rally1) finishes second at 1:37.8. The Japanese finishes on the podium in Kenya for the third time in four years. Frenchman Adrien Fourmaux (Ford Puma Rally1) drove a flawless race and finished third.
For Hyundai, the streak of bad luck in the Safari Rally continues. Lappi and Tänak gave up on Friday morning. Neuville suffered a puncture on Friday, moved up to second place on Saturday morning, but was confronted with a fuel supply problem on Saturday afternoon. The Belgian lost minutes, but stayed on course and finished the day in fifth. On Sunday, Neuville won three stages, including the power stage that earned him five extra points. Neuville finished second in the standings on Sunday, good for another six World Cup points. In the World Championship standings, Neuville retains the lead and increases his lead over Elfyn Evans (Toyota Yaris Rally1), who finished fourth in the Safari Rally, to six points.
Just like in the previous races, Grégoire Munster (Ford Puma Rally1) also had bad luck. Munster had to retire on Saturday morning with a broken suspension. His brother Charles Munster (Hyundai i20 N Rally2) also suffered a broken suspension on Saturday afternoon. On his World Cup debut, Charles Munster finished thirteenth overall and fifth in WRC2. The Belgian Greek Jourdan Serderidis and Frederic Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1) finished ninth.
The Rally of Croatia, the fourth round of the season, is scheduled for April 18 and 21.