NAIROBI, Kenya, Jun 23 – French driver Sébastien Ogier beat defending champion Kalle Rovanperä to reclaim the WRC Safari Rally title he last won in 2021.
“I am happy to reclaim my title, thank you to my team,” Ogier said.
Ogier, who isn’t driving a full season, came home just 6.7 seconds ahead of the 22-year-old Finn as Toyota claimed the first four places as Elfyn Evans rounded out the podium while Takamoto Katsuta finished in fourth overall.
It was the 39-year-old Ogier’s third victory from just five starts so far this season, his second in Kenya after 2021 and his 58th career win in the World Rally Championship.
Rovanpera’s second place saw him consolidate his place atop the drivers’ standings, 37 points clear of Belgium’s Thierry Neuville (Hyundai), who finished in eighth in Kenya.
