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Kajetan Kajetanowicz confirmed his second Safari Rally Kenya WRC2 win in as many years with a masterful drive in typically challenging conditions on the classic African event.

The Škoda-driving Pole cruised to Sunday afternoon’s finish more than 11 minutes in front of nearest-placed challenger Martin Prokop, vaulting from ninth to fourth in the championship standings as a result.
Kajetanowicz tussled with M-Sport Ford youngster Grégoire Munster through Friday and Saturday but found himself comfortably clear at the top when his Fiesta Rally2 rival pulled over with a mechanical issue.

A cool and clever run through the closing six special stages was all that was needed to bring home the victory.

“We did it again! It’s an amazing feeling. It was so nice to be here again – it seemed to be easy but it wasn’t. Thank you to my team and Maciej, I think we did quite a good job,” said Kajetanowicz, referencing his co-driver Maciej Szczepaniak.

On Saturday, the Škoda Fabia Rally2 driver, fighting back from a Friday morning tyre delamination, won all three of the morning’s rugged speed tests to leapfrog overnight leader Munster before service.

Munster responded early in the afternoon by reclaiming the top spot with a benchmark time through Soysambu 2 but heartbreak was to come for the M-Sport Ford Fiesta Rally2 pilot as he retired after the stage with mechanical failure.

“There is still a long way to go,” Kajetanowicz admitted. “I need to say one more time that I am sorry for Grégoire. He was very quick. It was a good day for us but it’s not the end, a lot of things can still happen.”

Local star Carl ‘Flash’ Tundo is on course to achieve his goal of a top-three result on home soil. Although the Fabia debutant does not pose any real threat to Prokop, he sits comfortably clear of Armin Kremer, who also tops the WRC Masters Cup standings in a similar car. His exit not only elevated Kajetanowicz to first but also gave the Polish driver significant room to breathe. He starts Sunday’s finale over 10 minutes clear of second-placed Fiesta man Martin Prokop.

“There is still a long way to go,” Kajetanowicz admitted. “I need to say one more time that I am sorry for Grégoire. He was very quick. It was a good day for us but it’s not the end, a lot of things can still happen.”