Naivasha, Kenya: The cloud of dust finally settled down, when 23-year-old Finn, Kalle Rovanpera became a two-time winner of the toughest World Rally Championship (WRC) to put up a sterling performance to the finishing ramp at Hell’s Gate, in Naivasha Kenya on Sunday afternoon.

It was a 1-2 finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing as Rovanpera triumphed ahead of team-mate Takamoto Katsuta while Adrien Fourmaux completed the podium in the Ford Puma Rally1, during the four-day WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2024, which is the only one of its kind on the African soil.

Rovanpera who was co-driven by Jonne Halttunen, romped home with a classic time of 1m 37.8s victory while leading throughout Good Friday and battling the rocky sections around Lake Naivasha, achieving his12th career WRC victory.

The victor’s closest rival was Belgian Thierry Neuville behind the wheels of Hyundai i20 N Rally1, but he fell to fifth place at the finish, due time lost after Neuville’s vehicle experienced a fuel system problem at Soysambu’s first stage.

Neuville dropped more than two-and-a-half minutes as he rectified the fault through the remaining two stages, opening the gateway for Katsuta to capture the runner-up position ahead of Fourmaux.

Before heading for the finish in Naivasha on Sunday afternoon, the drivers battled through Malewa, Oserengoni and Hell’s Gate sections, raising clouds of dust with a few of the wildlife hot on their heels.

Speaking at the closing ceremony of the event, which was held at Hell’s Gate on Sunday, Kenyan President Dr. William Ruto disclosed that this year’s event was heavily sponsored by the government of Kenya and called on the private sector to take over the world event.

He called on the private sector to fully participate in this event, manage it better and manage it well.  He asked the private sector to be part sponsors of this championship and to gain from it in a positive manner.

“I am going to have a conversation with the teams that have put this together. This year we have made it more efficient, cost-effective and better. Next year we intend to double our efforts,” Ruto said.

“This year’s event made our Easter complete and exciting too,” said the Head of State.

At the prize giving ceremony, Rovanpera said “It’s always special to win here; Also, it’s a legendary event for Toyota. We’ve always been so good here and that’s continuing.”

Rovanpera built a lead of almost one minute after winning all of Friday’s rock-strewn stages around Lake Naivasha, then kept his nose clean to end Saturday two minutes clear as the chasing pack ran into mechanical troubles and tyre damage. That buffer allowed the two-time WRC champion to drive for a finish in Sunday’s final leg, which culminated amid stunning scenery at Hell’s Gate.

Takamoto Katstuta completed a Toyota GR Yaris 1-2 as the Japanese marque extended its manufacturers’ championship lead to four points over Hyundai Motorsport, while M-Sport Ford Puma hotshot Adrien Fourmaux bagged his second consecutive podium 47.3s behind.

Elfyn Evans ended Friday in contention for a podium but a fraught Saturday, which saw the Welshman stop twice to carry out stage-side wheel changes, meant he finished over four minutes back from his team-mate Rovanperä in fourth overall. He remains second in the drivers’ championship behind leader Thierry Neuville, who trailed him by almost six minutes in fifth.

Neuville now heads Evans by six points but endured a troublesome week aboard his Hyundai i20 N. Fuel pressure problems on Saturday cost the Belgian several minutes and suspension damage on Sunday, inflicted by a rock on the racing line, added insult to injury. His colleagues, Esapekka Lappi and Ott Tänak fared worse.

Lappi’s problems included two broken gearboxes over the course of the week while Tänak could only climb back to eighth overall behind WRC2 runners Gus Greensmith and Oliver Solberg after his car sustained broken suspension on Friday. Completing the top 10 were gentleman driver Jourdan Serderidis in a Puma and Škoda Fabia Rally2 star Kajetan Kajetanowicz.

The next round of the WRC moves to Zagreb-based Croatia Rally on April 18-21.    

WRC Safari Rally Kenya, final positions after Leg Three, SS19
1 Kalle Rovanpera/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) 3h36m04.0s
2 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +1m37.8s
3 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford Puma Rally1) +2m25.1s
4 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR Yaris Rally1) +4m20.2s
5 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +10m17.5s
6 Gus Greensmith/Jonas Anedrsson (Skoda Fabia RS – WRC2 winner) +18m05.4s
7 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Skoda Fabia RS – WRC2) +19m28.5s
8 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1) +21m02.0s
9 Jordan Serderidis/Frederic Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1) +26m13.3s
10 Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maciej Szczepaniak (Skoda Fabia RS – WRC2) +26m34.4s

WRC Drivers’ Championship after 3 rounds
1 Neuville 67 points 
2 Evans 61
3 Fourmaux 46
4 Tanak 33
5 Rovanpera 31

WRC Manufacturers’ Championship after 3 rounds
1 Toyota Gazoo Racing 131 points 
2 Hyundai Motorsport 127
3 M-Sport Ford 72