Rovanpera roars ahead as Toyota dominate Safari Rally / Photo: LUIS TATO - AFP
-
'Godzilla' actress Kaylee Hottle, 18, dies in US car crash
-
Pogacar fired up by losing twice to Evenepoel at Tour de France
-
South Africa's anti-migrant unrest led over 160,000 to flee
-
Trump vows to help Lebanon pursue peace with Israel
-
Ipswich sign Ghana winger Fatawu from Leicester
-
Liverpool in talks with Bhatia consortium over minority investment
-
Evenepoel wins 'special' Tour de France individual time-trial
-
French senators back social media ban for under-15s
-
Evenepoel wins Tour de France individual time-trial
-
Premier League referee Taylor retires, bemoans 'constant scrutiny'
-
Tropical Storm Bertha strengthens, threatening Gulf coast of US
-
China ally Solomon Islands invites US Coast Guard patrols
-
Microsoft strikes deal for Mistral's AI computing power
-
US readies new tariffs as Trump's 10% global levy to expire
-
Dutch students unveil 'world-first' solar-powered ambulance
-
Airbus pushes ahead with future single-aisle jet, hydrogen plane
-
French lawmakers set to ban social media for under-15s in European first
-
Stocks rise despite climbing oil prices
-
UK PM Burnham unveils energy tax cut, tells ministers to cut living costs
-
UNAIDS chief calls for 'radical change' in Africa amid aid cuts
-
Pharma heavyweights clash over anti-obesity drug ads
-
EU cancels subsidy to Venice Biennale over Russia presence
-
Hungary raids Orban's Fidesz party servers in graft probe
-
Heavy rain dampens search for dozens missing in Afghanistan flood
-
General Motors lifts 2026 outlook despite hit from electric retreat
-
Argentina represented themselves in 'best possible way' at World Cup: Fernandez
-
Uproar in France over reintroduction of bee-harming pesticides
-
Philippines, China summon ambassadors over clash in disputed waters
-
Kuwaitis ration electricity as Iran hits power grid
-
'White elephant': Colombia's anti-corruption activist turned senator
-
Former Man Utd boss Ferguson salutes old rival Keegan
-
Stock markets, oil prices climb
-
UK PM Burnham's new cabinet to meet as he announces tax cut
-
South Africa's anti-migrant unrest sparks smalltown suspicion, fear
-
Former MotoGP champion Quartararo to make Honda switch
-
Tour de France hit by new wave of anti-doping tests
-
Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine's under-fire commander-in-chief
-
Afghans search for dozens missing after devastating flood
-
New UK govt tackles cost of living with energy tax cut
-
Novartis says buoyed by new treatments in second quarter
-
China summons Philippine ambassador over clash in disputed waters
-
Great Barrier Reef at risk of 'collapse', scientists warn
-
Panama, China renew maritime port agreement
-
India's 'Cockroach' movement vows to protest until education minister resigns
-
De Gaulle returns to unite the French -- at the cinema
-
South Korea president urges regulator action on leveraged stock funds
-
North Korea reaffirms support for Moscow over Ukraine
-
For Ukraine's drones, names are part of the battle
-
South China Sea rivalry looms over ASEAN meeting
-
Countries move to ban social media for children
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
