Defending champion Kalle Rovanpera produced a master class performance to emerge as the overnight leader at the 2nd day of the 2024 WRC Safari rally by winning all the 6 stages of the competition on Friday.
Rovanpera navigated by Jonne Haltunen from Toyota Gazoo recovered from 4th finish in day one to lead Friday’s action which saw drivers navigate through a rocky and bumpy stages of Loldia,Kedong and Geothermal in the morning rounds, before stamping authority to register another perfect afternoon win.
The Finland driver recorded 46.4 secs as the day 2 overnight leader ahead of his team mates Katsuta Takamoto and Elyfin Evans who finished 2nd and 3rd positions respectively.
First day leader Thierry Neuville from Hyundai could only manage a 4th finish 1 minute 41.3 seconds behind the leader.
Karan Patel navigated by Tauseef Khan in A Skoda Fabia competing in WRC2, was the best local driver and 14th overall, followed by Carl Tundo and Aakif Virani who completed the day in 20 and 22nd positions respectively.
However, it was a bad Friday for Hyundai’s Ott Tanak who retired at Geothermal SS3 after his car was involved in an accident which was the same case for his teammate Esapeka Lapi.
