Finland does it again in WRC Safari Rally Kenya, as Uganda and Tanzanian envoys crash out.

Ace driver from Finland, Kalle Rovanpera, who was racing for the Toyota Gazoo team has won the World Rally Championship Safari Rally 2024 in Kenya.

Previously it was anticipated that Tanzania and Uganda’s representatives would help to fly the East African flag high in the WRC racing event but the due crashed out of the Safari Rally Kenya 2024 in the Kedong 2 stage.

Yasin Nasser and Ali Kamtumba were in top 10 positions under their respective category of World Rally Championships 2 but the accident marked the end of their dream in the WRC Safari competition.

They were racing in their Ford Fiesta MKII which was badly damaged.

The incident signaled that chances of the trophy coming back to the East African Community were buried and indeed that proved to be the case.

On the other hand Kalle Rovanpera became a two-time winner of Safari Rally Kenya on Easter Sunday afternoon, securing a dominant victory at the head of a 1-2 finish for Toyota Gazoo Racing.

The Finnish driver who won with a One Minute and 37.8 seconds’ victory margin, finished ahead of the GR Yaris team-mate Takamoto Katsuta while M-Sport Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux completed the podium.

It was Rovanpera’s 12th career victory.

Rovanpera built a lead of almost one minute after winning all of Friday’s rock-strewn stages around Lake Naivasha.

Thierry Neuville was Rovanpera’s closest threat, but his challenge was short-lived after his Hyundai i20 N encountered a fuel system issue during the afternoon’s first stage at Soysambu.

Neuville dropped more than two-and-a-half minutes as he rectified the problem through the remaining two stages, which opened the door for Katsuta to reclaim the runner-up spot ahead of Fourmaux.

As for the victor, Kalle Rovanperä is a Finnish professional rally driver competing in the World Rally Championship (WRC) for Toyota Gazoo Racing WRT, alongside co-driver Jonne Halttunen.

Other than being the double reigning World Champion, Kalle is the son of former WRC driver Harri Rovanperä