Rovanpera, leader in Kenya after a tough first stage

finn Kalle Rovanpera (Toyota Yaris), head of the World Cup, was this Friday as head of Kenya Safari Rally after arguing in a tough first stage where his ally was the French sebastien ogier He led the race until he lost by 2: 21.1 minutes on the last special of the day, having to stop to change tires.

Despite being responsible for opening the track, Rovanperathis year’s winner of three of the five contested races (Sweden, Croatia and Portugal), commanded the general of the race’s sixth rally, with 22.4 seconds ahead of another Toyota driver, the British Elfyn Evansand 25.3 in Estonian Ott Tanak (Hyundai i20), world champion in 2019 and completed the provisional podium despite having a mishap with the gear lever.

Ogier, an eight -time world champion, started on stage as leader after winning the opening stage on Thursday and remained in the lead after running the first two stages of the day, before being handed it to Evans after the third.

The Frenchman took advantage of a subsequent prick from Evans to recover the lead and keep it until the last section this Friday he had an accident on a tire that forced him to stop to change. He gave up 2: 21.1 minutes, handing the lead to Rovanpera and suddenly dropped to sixth place in the overall standings, 2: 08.2 behind the leader.

A place ahead, fifth, is Thierry Neuville (Hyundai i20), was delayed to just 57.5 despite an episode of power outage in his vehicle’s engine. The Belgian was second in the World Cup, 53 points behind Rovaanpera.

The nine -time world champion, the French sebastien loeb (Ford Puma), was less than half an hour from the head after having problems with an engine that once had a fire outbreak.

This Saturday the second stage will be held, with six timed sections, three of which will pass through Soysambu (29.32 km), Elmenteita (15.08) and Sleeping Warrior (31.04).