- Kalle Rovanperä was forced to pull out of the 2025 WRC Safari Rally on Sunday due to battery failure.
- Rovanperä is a two-time WRC Safari Rally champion having won the coveted title in 2022 and 2024.
- Rovanperä will not collect any World Rally Championship points in Kenya this year.
Multiple World Rally Championship (WRC) Safari Rally Kenya winner Kalle Rovanperä was forced to retire from the 2025 edition on Sunday because of a technical issue.
Rovanperä broke the news on his social media platforms, describing it as a very painful decision to take.
“Sadly, it’s game over for us as we are forced to retire after the first stage of the morning with a technical issue,” divulged the Finnish driver.
Challenging 2025 WRC campaign for Rovanperä
Rovanperä, who won the WRC Safari Rally Kenya titles in 2022 and 2024, has had a difficult campaign in the event that is being held in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
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He has had nightmares since the start of the championship especially on Saturday where he picked up two punctures to allow his rival and Toyota Gazoo Racing World Rally Team teammate Elfyn Evans to open over a minute gap from him.
In addition, Rovanperä also damaged the rear-left suspension of his car in the afternoon hence he had to crawl in several stages, dropping to the fifth position in the process.
ALSO READ: Defending WRC Safari Rally Kenya champion Rovanperä tops charts in shakedown
In general, the 24-year-old has not had a good outing in the championship this year and is yet to register a top three finish since the start of the calendar.
Elfyn Evans controls WRC Safari Rally Kenya proceedings
Evans, who is assisted by his compatriot Scott Martin, sat at the top of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya ranking at the close of business on Saturday.
The Driver, who hails from Great Britain, was followed by Ott Tänak and Belgian driver Thierry Jean Neuville.
This year’s WRC Safari Rally edition has been the most difficult one in recent years and things are set to get tougher on Sunday.
According to the WRC Safari Rally Kenya schedule, the drivers will race in five stages on the final day. These stages include Mzabibu 2, Oserengoni 1, Hells Gate 1, Oserengoni 2 and Hells Gate 2 Wolf Power Stage.
The WRC Safari Rally Kenya fans are eagerly anticipating the Hells Gate 2 Wolf Power Stage because it offers breath-taking scenes.
ALSO READ: WRC Safari Rally Kenya 2025: Stages, changes made, schedule & where to watch