WRC leaves Swedish snow for Kenya mud
● Rainy season calls for snorkels ● Evans three points behind Neuville
THE Safari Rally in Kenya takes place a little earlier in the World Rally Championship calendar this year – March instead of June – which means it falls during the country’s rainy season. With plenty of muddy puddles expected, WRC has allowed teams to fit massive snorkels to their cars – ensuring this year’s Safari Rally will be the most distinctive since its return to the calendar in 2021.
So far this year we’ve seen a real surprise package in the shape of
Adrien Fourmaux. The Frenchman, who drives for M-Sport Ford, has collected 16 points so far, thanks to a fifth place in Monte Carlo and a third spot in Sweden – making it already a more successful year than his 2022 season (he switched to Rally2 in 2023). M-Sport Ford will be hoping Fourmaux can keep up his form for the rest of the season and challenge for an overall podium spot in the final standings.
Hyundai driver Thierry Neuville sits at the top the leaderboard after a win in the opening round at Monte Carlo, followed by fourth in Sweden. The Belgian’s best finish in Kenya so far is fifth in 2022, and he’ll want to make amends after disqualification last year.
Welshman Elfyn Evans is only three points behind Neuville in the standings, after taking third and second places in Monte Carlo and Sweden respectively. The Toyota driver knows this is his best shot at a world title for some time, with Kalle Rovanpera and Sebastien Ogier being part-time drivers in 2024. As for the defending champion Rovanpera, he will run in his second event of the year. The Finnish driver is the only entrant who has won the Safari Rally, his victory coming in 2022.