The first loop of the second day of the Safari Rally Kenya has come to an end. Sebastien Ogier leads the pack after SS4.
SS2, LOLDIA 1
Sebastien Ogier (FRA) and Vincent Landais (FRA) of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen racing during the World Rally Championship Kenya in Naivasha, Kenya on 21 June, 2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Sebastien Ogier would take the first full-stage win of Safari Rally Kenya. Ogier would finish with a time 7.5 seconds faster than Kalle Rovanperä who would place second on the stage. Elfyn Evans set the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Rovanperä. Thierry Neuville finished with the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 0.3 seconds slower than Evans. Takamoto Katsuta would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 0.9 seconds slower than Neuville.
SS3, GEOTHERMAL 1
Esapekka Lappi (FIN) Janne Ferm (FIN) Of HYUNDAI SHELL MOBIS WORLD RALLY TEAM are seen racing during the World Rally Championship Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya on 22 June, 2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Stage three of Safari Rally Kenya would see Esapekka Lappi take the win. Lappi would set a time 1.2 seconds faster than Sebastien Ogier to take the stage win. Takamoto Katsuta would finish with the third fastest time on the stage, finishing 1.1 seconds slower than Ogier. Kalle Rovanperä set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 1 second slower than Katsuta. Elfyn Evans would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 1.1 seconds slower than Rovanperä.
SS4, KEDONG 1
Kalle Rovanperä (FIN) Jonne Halttunen (FIN) Of team TOYOTA GAZOO RACING WRT are seen racing during the World Rally Championship Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya on 22 June, 2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Kalle Rovanperä would take the stage win on the third and final stage of the first loop on day two of Safari Rally Kenya. Rovanperä would set a time 8 seconds faster than Thierry Neuville to win the stage. Rally leader Sebastien Ogier would finish third on the stage, 1.4 seconds slower than Neuville. Elfyn Evans set the fourth fastest time on the stage, finishing 4.7 seconds slower than Ogier. Dani Sordo would round out the top five on the stage, finishing 7.9 seconds slower than Evans.
Zebra Crossing
Safari Rally Kenya is unique in many different ways. One of those ways the rally is unique is the amount of wildlife around and on the event’s stages. Ott Tänak would be the first to get a taste of that wildlife this weekend. As Tänak would lose 6 or so seconds on SS2 due to Zebra’s being in the road.
Trouble For M-Sport
Pierre-Louis Loubet (FRA) Nicolas Gilsoul (BEL) M-Sport Ford WRT are seen racing during the World Rally Championship Kenya in Nairobi, Kenya on 22 June, 2023 // Jaanus Ree / Red Bull Content Pool
Ott Tänak came into day two of Safari Rally Kenya with a 0.1-second lead over Sebastien Ogier. Unfortunately, Tänak wouldn’t have much luck on the opening loop of day two. As Tänak would encounter a Zebra crossing on SS2 as previously mentioned as well as a puncture and engine issues on SS4. This would ultimately rob us of a chance to see Ogier and Tänak battle it out during the second day of the event, and maybe even longer. Pierre-Louis Loubet would also experience engine issues on day two. With Loubet experiencing them on the opening stage of the day. It’s unknown if the engine issue was the same for both Tänak and Loubet.
Trouble For Lappi
Esapekka Lappi would take home one stage win on the opening loop. Unfortunately, Lappi wasn’t able to keep his luck heading into the following stage. As Lappi would suffer a puncture on the stage, costing him about 30 seconds in time.
What To Expect From This Afternoon
Day two of Safari Rally Kenya still has three more stages to run. All of which are repeats of the first three stages of the day. It’s expected the stages will be more rutted, and harder to drive for the drivers. Expect a few drivers to try and move up the leaderboard this afternoon. Namely Ott Tänak who will be looking to have a strong result after only taking home 4 points in Sardegna last month. Kalle Rovanperä and Sebastien Ogier will likely battle it out all afternoon, with both drivers wanting to be first at the end of the day.
Safari Rally Kenya Tänak Leads After Day One