Rovanperä set the fastest time on all three special stages. Before the afternoon loop, the Finnish star’s lead is 15.5 seconds ahead of compatriot Esapekka Lappi.
“The feeling is good. The morning was tougher than I expected. We knew that the first stage of the loop wouldn’t suit the car’s settings. However, we hoped that the car would be a bit better. Clearly, everyone had problems, though,” Rovanperä described.
“We need to find something for that first stage in the afternoon. Otherwise, I would say that the morning loop was pretty good. In a way, you have to make a compromise with the settings for each stage.”
Rovanperä’s strongest performance was on the morning’s final stage, the over 30-kilometer-long Kedong stage. In Kenya, the route is almost the same as in previous years, but this particular special stage was run in the opposite direction.
New rallies and special stages, where the champion can attack, have always suited Rovanperä.
“The last stage was kind of new because it was driven in the opposite direction than usual, so the notes were new for everyone. There, you could attack and achieve a better time compared to others,” Rovanperä said.
“I’ve always enjoyed driving with new notes. Everyone copies each other’s performances from previous years if the stages are always the same. Then, the differences also become very small. When there are new stages and new notes, you can make those differences. Now, no one could copy.”
Three more special stages will be run in the Safari Rally on Friday. The rally ends on Sunday.
