World champion Sébastien Ogier and his navigator Benjamin Veillas set the fastest time at the Kasarani Super Spectator Stage on Thursday.
The Toyota Yaris driver, who won the World Rally Championship Safari Rally last year in Naivasha, was +0.6 seconds faster than second placed Belgian Thierry Neuville in a Hyundai.
Ott Tanak, also in a Hyundai, was the third fastest, 1.1sec behind Ogier while Englishman Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin who was driving a Toyota Yarris, was fourth.
Veteran rally driver Sebastian Leob, who last raced in Kenya in 2002, was the fifth fastest driver.
The 2022 WRC Safari Rally is finally here with main event set to be flagged off from the Kenya Wildlife Training Services in Naivasha Friday morning.
The Toyota Yaris of Finland’s Kalle Rovenpera/Jonne Halttunen will be the first car to leave the ramp before heading for the main event where they will tackle four competitive stages starting with Loldia and Kedong before the two stages are repeated during the course of the competition.
The Hyundai Hybrid car of Thierry Neuvilla/Martijn Wydaeghe will follow in second place. These are part of the 31 cars that are listed under the FIA P1, P2 and P3 classes.
The group includes some of the leading Kenya National Rally Championship contenders who include the likes of Carl Tundo, Karan Patel, McRae Kimathi, Maxime Wahome, Jeremey Wahome among others.
Sean Johnston/Alexander Kihurani (Citroen) were the first foreign crew to be flagged off by President Uhuru Kenyatta at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre. Kihurani’s father comes from Karatina.
Kenya’s rally sensation McRae Kimathi and Mwangi Kioni were the first crew to be flagged off by the President.
Other drivers from the African continent include Zambia’s Urshila Gomes who will navigate her husband Leroy Gomes, while Sylvia Vindevogel of Burundi will help Giancarlo Davite.
India will also be represented in the WRC by Gaurav Gill. He will drive a Skoda Fabia in Kenya’s round of the WRC series.
The rally is expected end on Sunday by 3pm.
