Rovanpera roars ahead as Toyota dominate Safari Rally / Photo: LUIS TATO - AFP
-
Liverpool boss Iraola urges Isak to raise his level
-
US warns of rapid escalation in Middle East war
-
Evenepoel wins record 4th straight world time-trial title
-
Germany's far-right AfD celebrates another state election win
-
France's Macron, Canada's Carney announce closer ties
-
Russia vows revenge for election-day attacks as poll shows ruling party win
-
Carrick defends troubled Man Utd after Fulham escape
-
Spaun late shows snatches PGA Championship win
-
Horror movie 'Resident Evil' tops N. American box office
-
Conceicao strikes as Juventus beat Atalanta
-
Germany's Merz vows to stay course despite new vote losses
-
Britain, Zverev-inspired Germany, Spain complete Davis Cup finals
-
Man City outgun Sunderland despite Brobbey hat-trick, Man Utd rescue Fulham draw
-
Man Utd salvage Fulham draw as pressure mounts on Carrick
-
Mourinho blames ref committee for Real Madrid derby defeat
-
Spanish civil war drama 'The Black Ball' wins at Toronto festival
-
Maresca craves a 1-0 win after eight-goal Man City thriller
-
Germany's Merz shaken by far-right and far-left gains in state votes
-
Atletico Madrid beat Real Madrid in tense derby clash
-
Macron welcomes Canada's Carney to French Atlantic territory
-
Reusser retains world time-trial title
-
Fiorentina frustrate Napoli with Serie A draw, Como upset
-
Man City outgun Sunderland despite Brobbey hat-trick, Liverpool win at Bournemouth
-
Five-star Man City top Premier League after Sunderland thriller
-
Top US, Chinese economic officials meet ahead of Trump-Xi summit
-
Ukrainian drones hit Moscow on last day of Russian elections
-
Erdogan's LGBTQ crackdown 'first step of election campaign': activist
-
Multi-Asset Trading Venue Monochrome Exchange Announces IEO of Its Native Token, $MCR
-
Mass drone barrage on Moscow kills two
-
South Korea break Japan hearts to win Asian Games basketball gold
-
82-year-old dies after beach fight in Greece over sun lounger
-
Acosta takes first victory at Austrian MotoGP
-
US warns of rapid escalation in Mideast war
-
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi under investigation in France for conflict of interest
-
Iran 'put hearts on the court' to win Asian Games basketball bronze
-
China swim sensation, 13, sets Games record after Japan win early
-
School girl Yu helps China dominate in Asian Games swimming openers
-
Drones hit Moscow as Russians go to the polls
-
Myanmar win first Asian Games teqball gold as Spain great Puyol watches
-
New England boss Fleming says 'wrong' to ask Stokes to end retirement
-
China's 13-year-old Yu scorches to first major gold at Asian Games
-
Germans vote in elections threatening fresh blow to Merz
-
Russians vote on last day of parliamentary elections
-
US fears rapid escalation in Mideast after Houthis attack Riyadh
-
Hong Kong pays final respects to former city leader Tung
-
Japan triathlete Hojo wins first gold of Asian Games
-
Typhoon put people off Asian Games opening ceremony, official says
-
IOC president impressed by 'beautiful' Asian Games wooden huts
-
China's 13-year-old Yu cruises as Asian Games swimming begins
-
First Asian Games gold goes to Japan as China's 13-year-old Yu lights up pool
Rovanpera roars ahead as Toyota dominate Safari Rally
Double reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera powered ahead at the Safari Rally Kenya on Friday winning all six stages as his Hyundai rivals suffered mechanical problems.
The 23-year-old Finn is competing in just a few WRC world championship events this year and had been sitting third after Thursday's 'super special'.
The Toyota driver, winner of the African race in 2022, had a perfect day despite the difficult conditions in the East African savannah.
The Safari Rally, third round of 13 in the championship, is considered the most difficult, and this year it takes place during the rainy season which makes the tracks difficult to navigate.
But Rovanpera pulled out all the stops after failing to finish last month in Sweden, opening up a lead of around one minute on Toyota teammates Elfyn Evans of Wales and Japan's Takamoto Katsuta.
Championship leader Thierry Neuville had led overnight but suffered as he opened the track first ahead of his rivals.
After hitting a stone, the 35-year-old Belgian had a puncture and lost parts of the bodywork which had been torn off in the impact.
At the end of the second day, the Hyundai driver was fourth, 1 min 07sec off the pace.
His two teammates at the South Korean manufacturer, however, saw their hopes of victory disappear.
Finland's Esapekka Lappi, winner of last month's Rally Sweden, suffered a transmission problem during SS5, while Estonian Ott Tanak went off the road on the following stage when in second spot.
The curse in Kenya appears to continue for Hyundai, which has only secured one podium at the Safari Rally since the event's return to the calendar three years ago, while Toyota has dominated on African tracks.
On Saturday drivers will compete in six stages with 160.96 timed kilometres.
Safari Rally Kenya standings:
1. Kalle Rovanpera (FIN/Toyota) 1hr 16min 22.6sec, 2. Elfyn Evans(GBR/Toyota) at 56.9sec, 3. Takamoto Katsuta (JPN/Toyota) at 1min 00.8sec, 4. Thierry Neuville (BEL/Hyundai) 1:07.3, 5. Adrien Fourmaux (FRA/M-Sport Ford) 1:46.6
Special stage winners:
Kalle Rovanpera (SS2, SS3, SS4, SS5, SS6, SS7), Thierry Neuville SES1)
Main retirements:
Esapekka Lappi (FIN/Hyundai) transmission failure SS5
Ott Tanak (EST/Hyundai) left the road SS6
E.Flores--AT
