Hyundai Motorsport Highs and Lows at Safari Rally Kenya

Hyundai Motorsport suffered endured a day of mechanical heartbreak on the final day at Safari Rally Kenya. Rally leaders Thierry Neuville and Martijn Wydaeghe were forced to quit after a broken damper made continuing the rally impossible.

The Belgian crew had a 57.4-second lead going in to Sunday morning. The broken rear-right damper occurred during in the 11.33km Loldia test. The crew were able to get themselves to the finish of the stage, and although they were still in the lead, were unable to go on..

Ott Tänak and Martin Järveoja took the team carried the team flag with a third place finish. They also had strife with Saturday afternoon’s wet final stage. This is their first podium finsih since winning in February’s Arctic Rally Finland.

Sunday’s five stages included a repeated loop of Loldia (SS14/17) and Hell’s Gate (SS15/18), with a single run through Malewa (SS16).

For Dani Sordo and Borja Rozada were forced to quit on Friday after hitting a rock in the SS3 Kedong testThey managed to battle through the final stages for vital extra points in the Power Stage. A Tänak got top points in the repeat run through Hell’s Gate, and Sordo got another point for the fifth-fastest time.

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ABOVE: Hyundai Motorsport Highs and Lows at Safari Rally Kenya

The Safari Rally Kenya was punishing for both crews and teams with terrible conditions and unexpected trials. The rugged and rutted terrain, sudden downpours, and mechanical failures gave defending manufacturers’ champions a weekend to remember, and not in a good way. Hyundai Motorsport holds second place in the manufacturers’ classification at the half-way point, with 59 points.

IMPORTANT POINTS:

Hyundai Motorsport picked up a podium finish in Safari Rally Kenya, despite long-time rally leader Thierry Neuville retiring on Sunday’s opening stage
Ott Tänak finished in third place, his first podium since Arctic Rally Finland, and took maximum points with a committed Power Stage drive
Dani Sordo brought his Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC home to claim a solitary point in the final stage after another rally which had promised more

Crew Notes: Ott Tänak/Martin Järveoja (#8 Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC)

Estonians finished third to take their first podium since Arctic Rally Finland in February
Five extra points for the fastest time in the Hell’s Gate Power Stage

Tänak said: “On the one hand, it is good to be back on the podium and to take maximum Power Stage points, but this has been another difficult weekend for the team. My approach to this event has been to drive at 50-60% of my maximum, to not make any mistakes and to be as smooth as possible. Friday was demanding, just as Safari Rally needs to be, and it was like that again this morning. It has been an impressive event, and enjoyable to do something different and unique, for instance the fesh-fesh on Friday, which was very challenging and like an adventure. It is a shame for Thierry that it didn’t work out for him this weekend. We now head back to Estonia, my home event, which should be fun.”

Final Overall Classification – Safari Rally Kenya

1	S. Ogier	J. Ingrassia	Toyota Yaris WRC	3:18:11.3
2	T. Katsuta	D. Barritt	Toyota Yaris WRC	+21.8
3	O. Tänak	M. Järveoja	Hyundai i20 Coupe WRC	+1:09.5
4	G. Greensmith	C. Patterson	Ford Fiesta WRC	+1:44.7
5	A. Fourmaux	R. Jamoul	Ford Fiesta WRC	+1:54.6
6	K. Rovanperä	J. Halttunen	Toyota Yaris WRC	+10:53.4
7	O. Rai	D. Sturrock	Volkswagen Polo GTI	+29:26.4
8	K. Patel	T. Khan	Ford Fiesta R5	+33:30.4
9	C. Tundo	T. Jessop	Volkswagen Polo GTI	+36:40.7
10	E. Evans	S. Martin	Toyota Yaris WRC	+49:22.7