Eight-time WRC Champion Sébastien Ogier delivered an impressive performance on the first day of Safari Rally Kenya, bouncing back from a minor setback in the morning to establish a commanding lead.
Despite facing a hybrid unit fault, the Frenchman quickly regained his momentum and left his rivals trailing behind.
Sébastien Ogier impress in Safari Rally
By the end of the day, Ogier had secured three consecutive best stage times, finishing 22.8 seconds ahead of his teammate Kalle Rovanperä in a Toyota 1-2-3.
While Ogier dominated the rally, Rovanperä struggled with understeer issues in the second half of the day.
Meanwhile, Elfyn Evans claimed the third position but admitted to taking a cautious approach. Thierry Neuville started strongly for Hyundai but had to retire due to suspension damage, allowing Esapekka Lappi to move up the ranks.
Takamoto Katsuta faced mechanical challenges but managed to hold onto sixth place.
WRC 2 category
In the WRC2 category, Grégoire Munster showcased his talent and tactical skills as he seized the lead.
Despite being a rookie at the challenging Safari Rally, the 24-year-old M-Sport Ford driver displayed confidence and ended the opening leg with a comfortable 26.4-second advantage over his Polish rival Kajetan Kajetanowicz, the previous year’s winner.
Munster adapted to the unique African terrain and capitalized on Kajetanowicz’s tire delamination issue to secure the top position.
“This one was really tricky, so sandy and so deep,” Munster said at the finish of Kedong 2. “The car was crashing through quite a lot but I think we managed exactly as we needed to in this kind of stage. It’s rough, I am glad this first day is over.”
Martin Prokop, another experienced driver, ensured two Fords in the top three by securing the third position.
However, Armin Kremer encountered difficulties in the final test, resulting in a significant drop in the rankings. Local driver Carl Tundo aims to achieve a top-three result on home soil and currently sits in fourth place, while Daniel Chwist completes the top six.
Safari Rally WRC 3
In the WRC3 category, Diego Dominguez emerged as the frontrunner after midday leader Hamza Anwar experienced misfortune.
Anwar suffered three punctures on the final stage of the afternoon, losing over 15 minutes and plummeting in the standings. Dominguez, who competes regularly in the FIA Junior WRC, now holds a commanding lead.
Jason Bailey from Canada occupies the second spot, with McRae Kimathi, a former Junior WRC competitor, securing a podium position.
With 12 stages remaining, the rally is far from decided, and the drivers understand that anything can happen, considering the Safari Rally Kenya’s reputation for high attrition rates.
The upcoming route on Saturday will be the longest of the weekend, covering a challenging distance around Lake Elmenteita.
