Neuville takes control at rain-soaked Safari Rally / Photo: SIMON MAINA - AFP
-
Toogood Gold's Table Mountain Sits in the Shadow of a Nevada Gold Rush
-
Leverate Launches MCP for Traders to Connect AI Assistants With Trading Platforms
-
MEXC July–August Security Report: 38.66M USDT in Risk Funds Intercepted, Futures Insurance Fund Hits 792M USDT
-
MEXC Launches $1M "Discover Your Wall Street DNA" Campaign to Help Traders Find Their Market Fit
-
'Breathing toxin every day': Indonesians choked by haze feel helpless
-
Emporio Armani names Dario Vitale new creative director
-
Stocks edge higher ahead of US Fed rate call
-
Maresca defends VAR officials after Man City benefit from error
-
Philippines ex-leader Duterte makes first in-person ICC appearance
-
Courts jails LGBTQ activists as Turkey crackdown widens
-
2027 Formula One calendar includes Monaco sprint race
-
French court to hear Depardieu's appeal against rape trial order: sources
-
Palestinians are the real victims, Thunberg tells Ed Sheeran
-
The German state premier hoping to halt far-right surge
-
Hashim Thaci: From 'George Washington of Kosovo' to Hague convict
-
Lebanon wants Israel security deal as prelude to peace: president to AFP
-
Amnesty says Iran committed 'crimes against humanity' in crackdown on 2022 protests
-
England's Brook keen to learn from 'hero' Pietersen after stunning ton
-
EU to ban social media for under 13s, curb access until 15
-
Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warns of 'red line'
-
Philippines ex-leader Duterte makes first appearance at ICC
-
Phillippines ex-leader Duterte makes first appearance at ICC
-
EU chief pitches 'associate member' status for Canada
-
Lebanon wants Israel security deal, Hezbollah disarmament without confrontation: president to AFP
-
English village votes to 'secede' from UK over asylum centre plan
-
BASIS.pro Expands On-Chain Infrastructure with XDC Network Partnership and Zypher DAO as Auto Earn Goes Live
-
Wildfires push endangered Sumatran elephants to brink: Indonesian NGO
-
Samson relishing battle with teen star Sooryavanshi for India spot
-
Stocks head higher as traders prepare for Fed decision
-
Pickle-flavoured tart? AI inspires Japan's convenience stores
-
English village votes to 'secede' from UK over asylum centre
-
Macau holds first closed-door national security trial
-
Hong Kong unveils plan to align economy with China's goals
-
Bank of Japan set to raise rates under pressure from inflation, US
-
Brazilian voters the latest to eye Bukele security model with envy
-
Zverev, Shelton back on court for Davis Cup qualifiers
-
EU chief hosts Canada's Carney in push to 'deepen' alliance
-
Peace is a 'dangerous' word in Russian city heading to polls
-
EU chief to unveil social media, gaming curbs for under-15s
-
Meta chief pushes back on AI slowdown calls
-
Saudi says Houthis target Mecca, warn of 'red line'
-
'Resident Evil' film brings video game's ethos to the big screen
-
Asian stocks stutter as traders prepare for Fed decision
-
Court orders N. Korea pay Seoul $32.5 mn for blowing up office
-
US touts its power, avoids Iran war at G20 Energy meeting
-
US military buildup in Palau stirs war fears
-
Dead animals, barren fields, and hunger - El Nino chokes Central America
-
US Fed to deliver rate decision with markets betting on hike
-
In hydropowered Bhutan, solar starts to rise
-
Saudi, Egypt demand open Red Sea as Riyadh vows response to Houthi attacks
Neuville takes control at rain-soaked Safari Rally
Belgian world championship leader Thierry Neuville took control of the Safari Rally Kenya on Thursday after the opening special stage ahead of Estonia's Ott Tanak, both driving a Hyundai.
Neuville edged Tanak by a slim 0.1-second margin after the 'super special' where drivers competed two by two over a short loop during the day's only stage on a rain-soaked and muddy track.
Finland's double reigning world champion Kalle Rovanpera was third fastest in a Toyota as the 23-year-old competes in just a few WRC world championship events this year.
Neuville leads Briton Elfyn Evans of Toyota by three points after two rounds of the championship in Monte Carlo and Sweden.
Even if Hyundai are off to a good start to the season with Neuville winning in Monte Carlo and Finn Esapekka Lappi in Sweden, the Toyotas are favourites in Kenya after winning the last three editions of the African event which made its return to WRC calendar in 2021.
The Safari Rally, third round of 13 in the championship, is considered the most difficult.
This year it takes place in the middle of the rainy season which makes the tracks muddy and difficult to navigate.
The 19 special stages covering 367.76 timed kilometres take place around Lake Naivasha and Lake Elementaita, in the middle of the Rift Valley, around 2,000 meters above sea level.
J.AbuShaban--SF-PST
