Neuville pulled the fastest time, 5.2 seconds ahead of his teammate Esapekka Lappi, who was able to continue the competition on Saturday after retiring on Friday. Third-placed Neuville leaped to just 4.8 seconds behind second-placed Takamoto Katsuta.
Neuville and Lappi criticized the actions of the Safari Rally organizers at the end of the Elmenteita stage.
“It was a good run, but we were told that the road wouldn’t be modified after recce. We had a big moment. These actions are really dagerous here. They put big stones in the middle of the road,” Neuville cursed.
“The organizers are not doing a good job. They promised us that nothing will change, but they changed the cuts after the recce, which is really shitty,” Lappi echoed.
Toyota’s Kalle Rovanperä continues to lead the Kenya round by nearly a minute over Katsuta. Rovanperä posted the third-fastest time on Saturday’s second special stage.
“Quite cautious approach. Today we have a lot of stones and rough places. We will try to have normal pace, don’t want to be too slow and not take too many risks,” Rovanperä said.
M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux holds the fourth position, two minutes behind the leader. Elfyn Evans, who suffered a tire puncture on Saturday’s opening stage, is in fifth place.
Four more special stages will be run in the Safari Rally on Saturday. The competition concludes on Sunday.
Below is a summary of Friday afternoon’s events in the Safari Rally. The competition’s standings and schedule are below the video.
Standings in the Kenya Safari Rally after SS9/19:
1. Kalle Rovanperä Toyota 1:42:03.2 2. Takamoto Katsuta Toyota +58.3 3. Thierry Neuville Hyundai +1:03.1 4. Adrien Fourmaux Ford +1:56.0 5. Elfyn Evans Toyota +2:51.9 6. Gus Greensmith Skoda +9:25.6 7. J. Serderidis Ford +12:07.6 8. Oliver Solberg Skoda +12:29.1 9. K. Kajetanowicz Skoda +13:23.6 10. Nicolas Ciamin Hyundai +14:43.9
Safari Rally Itinerary (CET):
Wednesday, March 27th 08:01 Shakedown Loldia (5.40 km) Thursday, March 28th 12:05 SS1: Super Special Kasarani (4.84 km) Friday, March 29th 06:15 SS2: Loldia 1 (19.17 km) 07:33 SS3: Geothermal 1 (13.12 km) 08:26 SS4: Kedong 1 (31.50 km) 10:23 Service (40 min) 11:48 SS5: Loldia 2 (19.17 km) 13:06 SS6: Geothermal 2 (13.12 km) 13:59 SS7: Kedong 2 (31.50 km) Saturday, March 30th 06:01 SS8: Soysambu 1 (29.32 km) 07:05 SS9: Elmenteita 1 (15.08 km) 08:03 SS10: Sleeping Warrior 1 (36.08 km) 10:28 Service (40 min) 12:34 SS11: Soysambu 2 (29.32 km) 13:35 SS12: Elmenteita 2 (15.08 km) 14:33 SS13: Sleeping Warrior 2 (36.08 km) Sunday, March 31st 06:02 SS14: Malewa 1 (8.33 km) 06:52 SS15: Oserengoni 1 (18.33 km) 08:05 SS16: Hell's Gate 1 (10.53 km) 09:18 Service (15 min) 10:20 SS17: Malewa 2 (8.33 km) 11:10 SS18: Oserengoni 2 (18.33 km) 13:15 SS19: Hell's Gate 2 (10.53 km) *Power Stage
