The eight-time world champion and co-driver Vincent Landais came under pressure from championship leader Rovanpera across Sunday’s final six stages to clinch his third win of a partial 2023 WRC campaign by 6.7s. The margin was the closest in the event’s 70-year history.
Ogier produced a faultless drive on Kenya’s challenging, rough gravel stages, assuming the rally lead from M-Sport’s Ott Tanak on Friday’s morning first test, with road opener Rovanpera in second.
The Frenchman enjoyed a near perfect Friday, winning four of the six stages, helped by an inspired call to take only one spare, instead of two, that lightened his GR Yaris. A lack of hybrid at the end of the morning loop was his only issue.
Ogier then stamped his authority on the event, extending this lead over Rovanpera to 32.0s, despite suffering a puncture, before the much anticipated rain caused chaos during Saturday’s final stage.
Rovanpera halved the deficit to 16.7s after a masterful display in extremely treacherous conditions as the Finn won the stage, while Ogier lost time to a double front puncture.
Although happy to bag strong championship points by finishing second, Rovanpera continued to push on Sunday, reducing the gap to 8.1s, before Ogier responded by winning stage 15, despite losing his rear wing and tailgate after clipping a tree.
The gap continued to fluctuate until 9.2s separated the pair ahead of the final stage, but Ogier clung on, despite a rock damaging his car, to seal victory. Rovanpera could only the muster the third fastest time on the powerstage due to a lack of power from his car, but extended his championship lead to 38 points.
Source: Autosport