Ott Tänak takes early lead at Safari rally Kenya

The highly anticipated 70th edition of Safari Rally Kenya kicked off on Thursday, captivating thousands of fans who gathered on the outskirts of Nairobi.

Ott Tänak, driving for M-Sport Ford, claimed the quickest time through the 4.84km super special stage, placing him in the early lead of the iconic rally.

The purpose-built stage on the edge of Nairobi provided a thrilling start to the rally, following the ceremonial launch in downtown Nairobi.

Tänak showcased his skill and speed, edging out Sébastien Ogier, the 2021 Safari winner, by a mere 0.1 seconds in his Toyota Yaris.

With the main action set to commence in Naivasha, two hours north of Nairobi on Friday, Tänak believes Saturday will be the decisive day of the rally.

He remarked, "[Safari Rally Kenya is] a demanding one. Let's see after Saturday. I would say this day will tell us a lot."

Joining Tänak and Ogier in the top three was Kalle Rovanperä, Ogier's teammate and the 2022 Safari winner. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville secured the fourth overall position, leading the Hyundai contingent.

Wales' Elfyn Evans in a the third Toyota claimed the fifth spot, with Esapekka Lappi and Takamoto Katsuta, who encountered setbacks during Wednesday's Shakedown, performed admirably just outside the top five.

Lappi's Hyundai i20 N suffered a broken prop shaft, while Katsuta and co-driver Aaron Johnston escaped unharmed from a jarring roll.

Unfortunately, Dani Sordo's impressive performance was marred by a 10-second penalty for a false start, dropping him to 16th overall.

This penalty allowed Pierre-Louis Loubet in his M-Sport Ford Puma to move up one spot, while Oliver Solberg, driving a rally2-spec Škoda Fabia, secured a position ahead of Jourdan Serderidis in the Puma, rounding out the top 10.

The real test begins on Friday morning at 08:00 local time, with six stages scheduled for the day.

The highlight will be the challenging 30.62km Kedong stage, serving as the final stage of both the morning and afternoon loops.