Kenya - SS3: Rovanperä confirms, puncture for Neuville

Kalle Rovanperä set the best time of SS3 in Kenya, and retains the lead of the Safari Rally ahead of Esapekka Lappi. Thierry Neuville was slowed down by a puncture, and lost around ten seconds.

Published on 29/03/2024 à 08:07

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Two out of two for Kalle Rovanperä this Friday morning! The Finn signed a second consecutive scratch during SS3, still benefiting from a rather advantageous starting position. Like the SS2, the driver Toyota ahead of another Finn, Esapekka Lappi (+1″4). The two compatriots are leading the Safari Rally, with a three-second advantage for the two-time reigning world champion.
Author of the third stage of SS3, Ott Tänak (+4″3) is also in third place in the general classification aboard his Hyundai i20 N Rally1, 5″7 behind Kalle Rovanperä. The third Korean mount, that of Thierry Neuville (+19″9), suffered a puncture in the middle of the special. The Belgian lost around ten seconds and his right rear wing in this mishap, and fell to 5th place overall, 21″7 behind the leader.
Among the two full-time drivers at Toyota, it is Takamoto Katsuta (+4″8) who manages to hold off the Hyundais: the Japanese climbs to 4th place overall. Elfyn Evans (+10″7), second on the track at the start of the specials, is in more difficulty and is relegated to 23″4 behind his teammate Kalle Rovanperä.
French side, Adrien fourmaux (+11″6) keeps the pace and stays in the peloton overall. The Frenchman is in 7th place, 26″9 behind the leader.
In WRC2, Oliver Solberg suffered a puncture to his right front wheel and lost almost two minutes to his main rival this weekend, Gus Greensmith, who leads the category.