How Kalle Rovanpera tamed a wild WRC Safari Rally in Kenya

The Safari Rally acted as a brutal test of driver and car resolve as multiple retirements opened the path for a historic Toyota 1-2-3-4 triumph, headed by star Kalle Rovanpera. But keeping things clean was only half of the challenge, as a well-timed charge when conditions worsened allowed the Finn to take control

If you were among those that completed the 2022 Safari Rally, then you could count yourself very lucky indeed, or you were driving a Toyota. The second edition of the World Rally Championship’s revamped Kenya adventure was far more akin to the punishing marathon of old, where merely finishing this trip into the wilderness is an achievement.

After its return to the WRC calendar 12 months following a 19-year hiatus, organisers were happy, but felt it needed to be tougher. On reflection the rally organisers can tick that box as all the crews, and Hyundai and M-Sport in particular, can attest. But, perhaps Hyundai’s Oliver Solberg summed it best, saying: “This is proper rallying”.