Kalle Rovanpera’s second appearance of the season, which netted a second Safari Rally victory, owed plenty to his dominant Friday charge – and his rivals’ capitulation.
While the Finn sprinted clear on day one with the fastest time on all six stages, Esapekka Lappi and his Hyundai teammate Ott Tanak failed to go the distance, as Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville both suffered extensive delay.
Lappi, the Rally Sweden winner, was 15.5s behind Rovanpera when transmission failure put him out on the opening stage of the Friday afternoon loop.
Tanak benefited initially by moving into second. But when the Estonian bust his i20’s steering striking a rock on stage six, Rovanpera was in the clear.
He completed leg one leading by 56.9s and although he only managed a solitary stage win on Saturday being more circumspect,