Drivers did not give interviews at the finish of the morning’s shakedown, or if they did, they only commented in their native languages.
The protest was directed at the FIA, the sport’s governing body, after Hyundai driver Adrien Fourmaux was fined €10,000 in Sweden for swearing during a finish-line interview. Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä addressed the drivers’ protest on Wednesday in Kenya.
“I think this was an important move because we have felt that we haven’t been treated fairly,” Rovanperä said.
“I think this is a way to show that we drivers never mean anything bad. This is just sport, and we are in the heat of the moment. We just need to find a good compromise between everybody,” Rovanperä outlined.
However, Rovanperä did not reveal whether the protest would continue throughout the weekend or if it would be dropped during the event.
“It’s still a secret. That’s it,” Rovanperä stated.
But Wednesday in Kenya wasn’t just about the protest – there was rallying too. And Rovanperä started strong, as the Finn was the fastest driver in the morning’s shakedown. However, he noted that the car’s setup was not yet perfect and that adjustments would be made.
“It wasn’t the best. We’ve prepared for this rally as we always do and have tried to do everything we can,” Rovanperä said.
Rovanperä’s season has been underwhelming so far, but he remains optimistic.
“Of course, now that we’re moving onto gravel, we hope to be on a better pace. But let’s see how it goes,” the Finn stated.
In the first two rounds of the season, Rovanperä struggled to get the best feel for Hankook’s new tyres. Now, the situation seems to be improving.
“This is the kind of rally where we shouldn’t have any major issues in terms of performance anyway. Of course, we need to push hard, but this is one of those rallies where you can really influence your own outcome. I’d say it’s all about maintaining a consistently fast pace and staying out of trouble. That has always been the key to good result here,” Rovanperä predicted.
According to Rovanperä, the special stages were in rougher condition during recce than ever before in Kenya. This means extra care must be taken with the car when navigating through rocky sections and fesh-fesh.
Rovanperä has already celebrated victory at the iconic Safari Rally twice in his career. The Finn knows the formula for conquering this challenging event.
“I think it’s about finding the right compromise with speed. You need to keep a good rhythm because you have to be fast but also able to slow down appropriately for the rougher sections and technical parts of the roads.”
“And in this rally, more than anywhere else, you need a bit of luck – everyone needs it here. Hopefully, everything falls into place so that we can drive consistently,” Rovanperä hoped.
Safari Rally Kenya kicks off on Thursday with two special stages.
