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TOKYO, Apr 1, 2024 – (JCN Newswire) – – TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Workforce has received the legendary Safari Rally Kenya for the fourth yr in a row, with Kalle Rovanpera main Takamoto Katsuta in a one-two end on the demanding African occasion.
The crew continues its unbeaten run on the hardest spherical of the FIA World Rally Championship since its return to the calendar in 2021, whereas additionally extending the all-time Safari file set by Toyota (NYSE:) to 12 victories.
The end result as soon as extra demonstrates the energy and reliability of the GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID, which for this occasion featured an up to date suspension bundle in addition to a particular snorkel system: a contemporary tackle an iconic characteristic of Safari-specification automobiles of the previous.
It’s the second time that Rovanpera and co-driver Jonne Halttunen have received the occasion after their 2022 success. Their victory was constructed on an outstanding efficiency on the primary full day of the rally on Friday, the place they have been quickest in all six levels to open up a lead of virtually one minute. This enabled Rovanpera to take warning the place required on the longest and hardest day on Saturday – the place he nonetheless received the rally’s longest stage by practically 25s as most of his opponents hit hassle.
Together with his lead up above two minutes, Rovanpera might take a safety-first method by a lot of the ultimate day’s six levels and 74.38 aggressive kilometres, in the end sealing victory by 1m37.8s.
Katsuta achieved his third podium end result from 4 begins in Kenya, repeating his second-place end from 2021. He and co-driver Aaron Johnston drove a well-measured rally, with two stage wins on Saturday serving to them overcome a double puncture that had value them over a minute.
Elfyn Evans and co-driver Scott Martin ensured that each one three Toyotas completed inside the highest 4. They ran as excessive as second earlier than sustaining punctures on three separate events by Saturday’s tough and rocky levels. That left the rostrum locations out of their attain, however they nonetheless gave their all to attain as many factors as potential on Sunday, the place they have been third-fastest over the day and fifth within the Energy Stage.
With its one-two end, TGR-WRT took the utmost producers’ factors from the general classification plus an additional 11 bonus factors on Sunday and strikes right into a four-point lead within the championship. Evans took a complete of 16 factors from his weekend to maintain him second within the drivers- standings, six from the lead.
Quotes:
Akio Toyoda (TGR-WRT Chairman)
“For all of the crew members, congratulations on the primary victory this season and on successful Safari Rally Kenya for the fourth yr in a row! Kalle, Jonne, congratulations on one other victory in Kenya after two years, and thanks for the intelligent driving and working by these tough roads with out hassle.Takamoto and Aaron, congratulations on returning to the rostrum in Kenya additionally after two years! It was nice that you just accomplished all these levels.The pre-event take a look at simply earlier than Kenya was completed in Portugal and it was raining closely on the time. The crew reported to me that that they had heavy rain “fortunately” and lots of elements acquired damaged. Not like earlier years, the rally was held through the wet season, and the engineers and mechanics continued to make enhancements together with the countermeasures for rain till simply earlier than the rally began. After I heard the phrase “fortunately”, I recalled the phrases from GR Yaris engineers. They at all times inform me, one of many grasp drivers in Toyota, “Thanks for breaking the automobile as it would change into even stronger!” So this time, on behalf of the crew, I need to thank the rain in Portugal for making the GR Yaris Rally 1 stronger and introduced us the primary win. And naturally I wish to thank all of the crew members who improved the automobile till the final minute. The identical street is usually a totally different street in several seasons and climate, and since we compete on such roads and in such situations, automobiles change into stronger and our ever-better automobile making progresses. I imagine rally is that form of sport.The following occasions can be occurring with two-week intervals. I hope that everybody within the crew will handle their well being and proceed to make ever-better automobiles.”
Jari-Matti Latvala (Workforce Principal)
“We’re very pleased to win the Safari Rally as soon as once more and take our first win of the season in such model right here in Kenya. Kalle was actually dominating the rally from the start with a really intelligent method. He did not have any points the entire weekend, because of the crew which offered such a very good automobile, and likewise the way in which he was in a position to drive, enthusiastic about when to assault and when to avoid wasting the automobile. We’re additionally actually pleased to see Taka on the rostrum in second place. This appears to be a rally that he actually loves, and after the frustration he had in Sweden, it is a actually good end result for him and the crew. Luck was not on Elfyn’s aspect however he was preventing actually arduous and nicely to take as many factors as he might for the championship. For now we are going to get pleasure from this second after which work in direction of the subsequent problem in Croatia.”
Kalle Rovanper? (Driver automobile 69)
“It is particular to have the ability to win the Safari for the second time. This occasion is so robust and it is also a legendary one for Toyota: we’ve at all times been good right here and we’re nonetheless persevering with that file. Like they are saying in Africa, the automobile in entrance is at all times a Toyota. A giant because of the crew, as a result of everyone made a giant effort to make the automobile work so nicely. I believe we did a very good job, I believe you can’t do a greater Safari than what we did, with no points and intelligent driving. Immediately was tough, having to drive the roughest stage on the calendar twice when you may have an enormous lead, making an attempt to keep away from all the pieces, it isn’t simple. We simply wanted to stay to the plan and it labored out.”
Elfyn Evans (Driver automobile 33)
“It is not been a simple weekend for us. At the very least we might attain the tip of the rally which is a constructive factor, however we needed extra from this weekend. Immediately we had good velocity at factors however there have been only a few little points so we did not get as many factors as we would like. The primary loop was not simple: the opening stage was extraordinarily tough and we have been most likely too conservative there in comparison with the others. Within the Energy Stage we gave it a go however already within the first half it was very tough.”
Takamoto Katsuta (Driver automobile 18)
“It is a very good feeling to realize this second place and to be on the rostrum once more in Kenya. It was a tricky rally like at all times, so we have to say an enormous because of the crew as a result of they ready very nicely and the automobile was working so nicely. I made some errors yesterday and we acquired the punctures, however I might at all times belief the automobile. After we wanted to push, we have been in a position to push and the instances have been good. Reliability is a robust level for Toyota and I am very proud to drive this automobile.”
PROVISIONAL FINAL CLASSIFICATION, SAFARI RALLY KENYA
1 Kalle Rovanper?/Jonne Halttunen (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) 3h36m04.0s
2 Takamoto Katsuta/Aaron Johnston (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +1m37.8s
3 Adrien Fourmaux/Alexandre Coria (Ford (NYSE:) Puma Rally1 HYBRID) +2m25.1s
4 Elfyn Evans/Scott Martin (Toyota GR YARIS Rally1 HYBRID) +4m20.2s
5 Thierry Neuville/Martijn Wydaeghe (Hyundai (OTC:) i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) +10m.17.5s
6 Gus Greensmith/Jonas Andersson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +18m05.4s
7 Oliver Solberg/Elliott Edmondson (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +19m28.5s
8 Ott Tanak/Martin Jarveoja (Hyundai i20 N Rally1 HYBRID) +21m02.0s
9 Jourdan Serderidis/Frederic Miclotte (Ford Puma Rally1 HYBRID) +26m13.3s
10 Kajetan Kajetanowicz/Maciej Szczepaniak (Skoda Fabia RS Rally2) +26m34.4s
(Outcomes as of 15:30 on Sunday, for the most recent outcomes please go to www.wrc.com)
2024 FIA World Rally Championship for drivers after spherical 3:
1 Thierry Neuville 67 factors
2 Elfyn Evans 61
3 Adrien Fourmaux 46
4 Ott Tanak 33
5 Kalle Rovanper? 31
6 Takamoto Katsuta 30
7 Sebastien Ogier 24
8 Esapekka Lappi 23
9 Oliver Solberg 12
10 Andreas Mikkelsen 6
2024 FIA World Rally Championship for producers after spherical 3:
1 TOYOTA GAZOO Racing World Rally Workforce 131 factors
2 Hyundai Shell (LON:) Mobis World Rally Workforce 127
3 M-Sport Ford World Rally Workforce 72
What’s subsequent?
The Croatia Rally (April 18-21) is held on difficult asphalt roads across the nation’s capital metropolis, Zagreb. In addition to a mixture of quick and extra technical sections, the levels characteristic fixed floor and grip modifications.
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