After WRC Esports’ Rally Italia Sardinia cutting controversy, organisers looked forward to getting back to business on Safari Rally Kenya. The same applied to championship leader Sami-Joe Abi Nakhle, who was eager to continue his imperious form after taking five wins in a row.
Despite a non-appearance in Sardinia, Sami-Joe’s closest rival in 2022 continued to be Japanese rookie Kazuho Iwata (Kazunokota), but his failure to again appear on Rally Kenya has almost conclusively turned the tide of the points championship towards the Lebanese 2020 WRC Esports Grand Final winner.
Greeting the drivers for the tenth round of the series (nine if you discount Sardinia), were three stages, totalling 25km. The initial test was the Super Special Stage at Kasarani, with further gravel runs through Sayabei and Ntulele.
Sami-Joe emerged as class of the field yet again, with his biggest rival from 2021, Lohann Blanc (Nexl), equalling his best result of the season in second place. The battle for the final place on the rostrum was the main talking point from Rally Kenya, however, with all those from third to ninth places separated by just 3.7s.
Third place went to Triton Racing’s Michał Król (Katana), the young Pole taking his first ever WRC Esports podium position and a sign of his progression this season.
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