Kenya - SS5: Rovanperä continues, Lappi stopped!

First twist on this Safari Rally: Esapekka Lappi, who was 2nd overall, had to retire due to a transmission problem during SS5. Kalle Rovanperä scored his fourth consecutive scratch this Friday.

Published on 29/03/2024 à 12:29

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Kenya – SS5: Rovanperä continues, Lappi stopped!

The Safari Rally suffered its first victim during SS5! And he's the winner of the last rally, in Sweden, who paid the price: Esapekka Lappi encountered a problem at the 10th kilometer and had to abandon the gearbox and transmission of the Hyundai are affected. The Finn had an excellent start to the rally and was in 2nd place in the general classification.

⚠️ It was a transmission issue for @EsapekkaLappi in SS5, we'll get the car back and attempt to restart tomorrow 🔧#WRC https://t.co/q0zbxFgElC

— Hyundai Motorsport (@HMSGOfficial) March 29, 2024

Like this morning, it was Kalle Rovanperä who set the best time on SS5. The double world champion takes a fourth consecutive scratch and increases his lead at the head of the Kenya Rally: he is now ahead Ott Tänak, with an 18″6 lead.
The abandonment of Esapekka Lappi mainly benefits both Toyota by Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta. The two drivers, who set an identical time on this SS5, 0″ behind Kalle Rovanperä, logically gained a position. The Japanese is 6rd, the Welsh 3th.