Battle for supremacy intensifies as Ogier and Rovanpera brace themselves for grueling Safari Rally's Saturday showdown

©Kalle Rovanperä FB

MOTORSPORTS Battle for supremacy intensifies as Ogier and Rovanpera brace themselves for grueling Safari Rally's Saturday showdown

Festus Chuma 08:00 - 24.06.2023

The competing teams will face six tough stages, totaling a daunting 93.75 miles of demanding terrain.

The 2023 World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally is gearing up for a thrilling Saturday showdown as the competition reaches its halfway point. 

With six stages awaiting the Ten Rally 1 crews, the anticipation is high as the drivers brace themselves for a true test of skill and endurance.

Eight times world champion Sebastien Ogier, the seasoned rally maestro, maintains a slender lead, but with a long day of treacherous stages ahead, anything can happen.

"So far, so good! It's good to be in the lead even if it's only a small step done. We know we have a long day tomorrow (Saturday) and very tough conditions to go through. Let's keep focused!" expressed a determined Ogier, highlighting the demanding nature of the upcoming stages.

Ogier's main rival, Kalle Rovanpera, displayed commendable skill throughout Friday's stages, although he trails the leader. 

"It's been a pretty okay day (Friday) for us, of course I would like to be closer to Seb, but to be honest, the first stage of the loop on both passes was really slippy for us and I couldn't have done much more. We still drove a good day," said Rovanpera, showing his resilience despite the challenges faced.

As the action resumes on Saturday morning, the competing teams will face six gruelling stages, totalling a daunting 93.75 miles of demanding terrain.

Friday's Kedong stage, spanning 19.02 miles, already pushed the crews to their limits, providing a taste of what awaits them on the rugged roads of the Sleeping Warrior stage.

The Sleeping Warrior test, a modern classic of the Safari Rally, stretches across 19 miles, promising to push both man and machine to their absolute limits.

With the challenging conditions and the unforgiving African landscape, this stage will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in the rally.

"Tomorrow (Saturday) is the longest day of the event, and it also has the roughest stages, so it's going to be a challenge, and anything can happen!" exclaimed Rovanpera, fully aware of the magnitude of the task at hand.

Friday's 78 miles of driving served as a warm-up, but Saturday's gruelling stretches will test the mettle of even the most seasoned drivers.

The battle for supremacy between Ogier and Rovanpera is set to intensify, with the gap between them slim.

However, the Safari Rally is notorious for its unpredictable nature, making it impossible to discount the other competitors.

Sunday, the shortest day of the rally, will comprise six stages and a midday service before culminating in the Hell's Gate power stage, which promises a thrilling conclusion to the event.

The drivers will have to summon every ounce of skill, bravery, and resilience to conquer the remaining challenges and emerge victorious in one of the toughest tests in motorsport.

As the sun rises over the Kenyan landscape, all eyes will be on Sebastien Ogier and Kalle Rovanpera as they battle for supremacy in the Safari Rally.

The Saturday showdown holds the promise of high-speed drama, heart-stopping moments, and a true test of grit and determination.

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