Thierry Neuville, the current WRC points leader, faced a series of unfortunate events during the Saturday morning stages of the Safari Rally. Although he managed to climb to second position, his hopes of securing a podium finish were dashed due to issues with his Hyundai i20 N. Punctures affecting his Toyota rivals Elfyn Evans and Takamoto Katsuta provided Neuville with an opportunity, but his car struggled for power and he was forced to stop multiple times, even resorting to ending one stage in EV mode. The problem, which Hyundai identified as related to the fuel system, proved to be unfixable during the day, causing Neuville to lose more than 10 minutes navigating through the afternoon loop.
As a result of these setbacks, the Belgian driver plummeted from second to fifth place, trailing leader Kalle Rovanpera by a considerable margin of 11 minutes and 48.6 seconds. This turn of events also allowed title rival Elfyn Evans to gain seven championship points over Neuville, moving up to fourth place in the overall classification. Neuville’s frustration was evident in the service park, as he expressed disappointment in facing issues at the Safari Rally for the fourth consecutive year. “I don’t have a lot to say to be honest. Obviously, it was visible that the car wasn’t running and somehow we couldn’t solve the problems, so we continued the whole loop like this,” Neuville lamented.
Continued Struggles for Neuville
Despite his disappointment and the points lost to his competitors, Neuville remained determined to keep fighting. He acknowledged the significant impact of the day’s events on the championship standings, lamenting the missed opportunities to score valuable points. Hyundai team principal Cyril Abiteboul also expressed puzzlement at the nature of the issue faced by Neuville in the afternoon stages, emphasizing the need to analyze the data and fuel tank to understand the underlying cause.
Looking ahead to Sunday’s stages, Neuville stood to potentially salvage some points if he could complete the remaining challenges. Under the new points system introduced in 2024, a total of 20 points were up for grabs, offering him a chance to mitigate the damage caused by the setbacks on Saturday.
Esapekka Lappi’s Misfortunes
Neuville’s teammate, Esapekka Lappi, also encountered his fair share of challenges during the Safari Rally. From punctures to unexpected encounters with local wildlife, Lappi’s day was far from smooth. In a bizarre turn of events, Lappi’s Hyundai i20 N was struck by not one, but two birds in separate incidents during the final stage of the day. The impacts resulted in Lappi’s windscreen being smashed, severely hampering his visibility and forcing him to slow down significantly to ensure safety.
Recounting the unusual incidents, Lappi described the chaos caused by the birds and the subsequent difficulties he faced in maintaining control of the car. Despite the setbacks, Lappi’s perseverance shone through as he tackled the challenges head-on, determined to finish the day on a positive note.
The Safari Rally proved to be a demanding and eventful leg of the WRC for Thierry Neuville and Esapekka Lappi. While Neuville grappled with mechanical issues that significantly impacted his championship aspirations, Lappi navigated through unexpected obstacles like bird strikes with resilience and determination. As the teams regrouped and prepared for the final day of the rally, the drivers remained focused on overcoming the challenges ahead and showcasing their competitive spirit in the face of adversity.