Ott Tanak set the pace to secure an early lead after leg one of Safari Rally Kenya on Thursday.
The Safari Rally Kenya is the third round of the World Rally Championship which revved into action after the Kenyan president William Ruto flagged them off at the Kenya convention center in the center of Nairobi.
The crews started off with a Super Special Stage at Kasarani with Toyota Gazoo’s Elfyn Evans securing the stage win with a 1.5 seconds ahead of Thierry Neuville.
Stage two of the day; the newly added Mzabibu stage saw a change in leadership after Tanak drove the Hyundai at maximum pace to gain the lead with 2.4 seconds.
“It was all fine. I think the first stage tomorrow will show quite a lot. It’s super tricky, very demanding and long at the same time. I think the whole day will be quite a big show,” said Hyundai driver.
Takamoto Katsuta missed out on leading the event after surviving an incident in stage two. The crew would end the day with 2.4 seconds behind Tanak.
Msport’s Gregoire Munster completed the leg one top three.
Hyundai’s Andrien Fourmaux opened the list of casualties after his car battery died as he headed for stage two of the day.
Karan Patel Skoda Fabia rally2 was the best placed local crew sitting 16th overall. Jeremiah Wahoma was 18th with Carl Tundo in 19th overall after day one.
Eight stages covering the total distance of 159.06 awaits the crews on day two.