Rovanpera puts pressure on Ogier to set up grandstand finish
The Toyota duo continued an enthralling head-to-head as championship leader Rovanpera applied pressure on long time leader Ogier to reduce the gap to 13.6s with three stages remaining. Elfyn Evans remained on course to claim the final podium position despite a small scare. The Welshman headed to service 2m49.5s adrift and 35.7s ahead of Toyota […]
Rovanpera’s main focus on WRC title bid, not beating Ogier to Safari win
The Toyota driver managed to cut into team-mate Sebastien Ogier’s lead on Saturday afternoon after starring in extreme wet conditions on the day’s final stage. Ogier had extended his overnight lead to 32.0s heading into the final stage of the loop, but suffered a double front puncture and dropped 15.3s to Rovanpera, who won the […]
October wait to properly address Hyundai WRC reliability concerns
Hyundai’s weaknesses with its i20 N Rally1 have been thrust into the spotlight in Kenya following three prop shaft failures on Esapekka Lappi’s car. The issue prevented the Finn from completing any runs in shakedown after suffering two failures on Wednesday before a third struck on Saturday, which took him out of a comfortable third […]
Rovanpera scythes into Ogier’s lead as rain causes chaos
Eight-time world champion Ogier started Saturday with a 22.8s lead and the Toyota driver went on to stamp his authority on the event in the afternoon. However, heavy rain arrived during the day’s final stage, which allowed Rovanpera to cut Ogier’s lead to 16.7s ahead of Sunday’s final six stages. Toyota’s Elfyn Evans ended the […]
Lappi retirement leaves Toyota in control
The Finn inherited third on Saturday morning after making the most of a stall for Toyota’s Elfyn Evans on stage eight, but Lappi’s rally came to a premature end on stage 11. Lappi pulled off the road at the 22km mark of the 29.32km Soysambu test with what appeared to be a terminal technical issue. […]
Rovanpera nibbles at Ogier’s lead as conditions worsen
The eight-time world champion came through challenging damp and muddy conditions to preserve his lead, although Ogier’s overnight advantage over championship leader Rovanpera was cut by 0.7s to 22.1s. Hyundai’s Esapekka Lappi climbed into the podium positions, 1m18.4s adrift as Toyota’s Elfyn Evans dropped to fourth after losing time navigating a water splash. Toyota’s Takamoto […]
Ogier’s risky tyre decision a “clever call” says Toyota WRC boss
The 2021 Safari Rally winner made a bold decision to take only one spare wheel, instead of two, for Friday’s six stages at a rally renowned for being rough on tyres. The call proved to be an inspired move as Ogier used his lighter GR Yaris to good effect, winning four of the six stages […]
WRC Safari retirement has «hit us very hard”
The Hyundai driver was sitting fourth, 35.3s adrift of rally leader Toyota’s Sebastien Ogier, when he hit a compression that broke the front-left suspension on his i20N during stage six. Unable to repair the damage, Neuville was forced to pull over and retire from the action. The Belgian had already endured an eventful morning that […]
Ogier pulls clear of Rovanpera, Neuville retires
Toyota driver Ogier won four of the day’s six stages to head into Saturday with a 22.8s lead over Rovanpera, who impressed despite starting first on the road. Ogier held a 2.5s lead following the morning loop, with his only issue a lack of hybrid on stage four. He then produced a faultless afternoon performance […]