WRC Safari Rally lived up to its expectations as the world’s toughest when Hyundai‘s Thierry Neuville became the first biggest casualty on the second pass of the 13.12km Geothermal speed test.
The Belgian retired from the iconic Kenyan fixture when a small compression caused his suspension to break. Neuville was running in fourth place despite a slow puncture on the first pass.
Nevertheless, the Geothermal would bite him again on the second pass as the front-left suspension gave way on his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 hybrid contraption.
The Safari has prided itself as being one of the jewels in the crown of global rallying given its unique and energy-sapping fesh fesh stages.
And the 2023 edition of the fabled African fixture has reinforced that reputation in the iconic wildlife-filled 1190.79km course which traversed Loldia, Geothermal and the notorious 30.62km Kedong —the longest stage.
Eight times World Rally Champion Sebastien Ogier and Day 1 leader Ott Tanak were among those who found the three-stage loop at Loldia, Geothermal and Kedong difficult to wade through. Ogier had no hybrid for his entire run through Kedong 1 but remained in the lead after the first loop.
“Of course, it's very disappointing when you lose time and you cannot do anything. But I think we can be happy with our loop for sure. We hope that our car will be 100 per cent,” he said.
Ogier led the Friday morning run as Toyota Gazoo Racing's GR Yaris cars locked out the leading trio on Africa’s unremitting roads.
Elfyn Evans completed the Toyota top three behind Rovanpera in the first loop a hefty 17.0sec further back.
The Welshman’s cautious policy was clear to see.
“There are quite a lot of big stones already being pulled out and it feels quite soft in places. I knew I wasn't taking enough risks,” Elfyn said.
Belgian Neuville is one of several drivers to feel the full force of Kenya’s punishing power. Both he and i20 N partner Esapekka Lappi dropped time with tyre damage, as did Tänak, stopping to change a wheel on his M-Sport Ford Puma in Kedong.
Takamoto Katsuta damaged a steering arm on his GR Yaris and was forced to carry out roadside repairs before the morning’s finale. He trailed Neuville by 7.9sec and headed Lappi, the pacesetter in Geothermal, by 12.0sec.
Pre-rally pace note tweaks did not play to Dani Sordo’s favour. Instead they made the Hyundai man drive too cautiously in some high-speed sections.
Already lumbered with a 10sec penalty for jump-starting Thursday’s Super Special Stage at Kasarani, seventh was the best Sordo could manage on the day’s opening loop.
Pierre-Louis Loubet was hindered by what he described as a “setting” issue which left his Puma down on power in the day’s opener.
SATURDAY ITINERARY (1st Car)
SS8 Soysambu 1 (29.32 km)
SS9 Elmenteita 1 (15.08 km)
SS10 Sleeping Warrior 1 (31.04 km)
SS11 Soysambu 2 (29.32 km)
SS12 Elmenteita 2 (15.08 km)
SS13 Sleeping Warrior 2 (31.08)
