NAIVASHA, Kenya, June 21 (Xinhua) — Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta was an early casualty of the brutal Safari Rally when he rolled his Toyota through the shakedown of the seventh spherical of the 2023 World Rally Championship on Wednesday.
Katsuta, who completed second within the 2021 Safari Rally, had accomplished two runs with out incident within the warm-up stage earlier than he barrel-rolled his GR Yaris machine after a heavy compression.
“After a small jump we were breaking into a hairpin right. There was a small bump on the inside of the corner and straight away the car started to roll. To be honest, I was quite surprised because on the first two runs nothing really happened, but on the third run straight away something happened,” the shocked Japanese instructed the WRC web site.
Katsuta is predicted to begin the Safari Rally on Thursday after intensive repairs to his closely broken car.
Cars transfer to Nairobi for the ceremonial begin on Thursday earlier than motion begins with the Super Special Stage in Kasarani, 16km from the Central Business District.
The vehicles will then return to Naivasha for the principle rally from Friday to Sunday.