M-Sport's Suninen,Toksport WRT out of WRC Safari

M-Sport Ford star Teemu Suninen is among the three WRC2 drivers who will miss out on WRC Safari Rally Kenya.

Toksport WRC2 duo of Andreas  Mikkelsen from Norway and Bolivian Marco Bulacia have also withdrawn from the event.

The change only leaves the WRC2 category with Martin Prokop from Czech Republic. What this means is that 10th placed Prokop will win WRC 2 on Safari should he manage to steer his Ford Fiesta Rally 2 machine to the finish ramp.

Toksport couldnt honor the Safari after damaging their Skoda Fabia Rally 2 Ecos in Italy. Their Italy woes complicated their would-be Safari debut. 

M-Sport Ford Managing Director Malcolm Wilson told DirtFish about Suninen's situation, saying: “It’s simply the complication of taking more people from the UK to Kenya."

“We need a minimum of five people to run his car and we can’t afford to have those people in quarantine when we come back – not when we need them in the factory getting the cars ready for Rally Estonia.'

“Honestly, this is one of the most complicated times I’ve known in more than 40 years in business. We’ve tried looking at this every way, but there’s nothing we can do to get Teemu out there I’m afraid,” said Malcolm in an interview with DirtFish.

WRC Safari is co-sponsored by KCB Bank Kenya and Toyota Kenya among others. 

WRC 2 STANDINGS AFTER RALLY ITALIA SARGDEGNIA

WRC2 STANDINGS

1. (NOR) ANDREAS. MIKKELSEN  68 
2. (NOR) MADDS OSTBERG 66
3. (BOL) MARCO BULACIA 63 
4. (FIN) E. LAPPI 59
5. (FIN) TEEMU SUNINEN 41
6. A FOURMAUX 34
7. E. BRAZZOLI 31
8. J HUTTUNEN. 30
9. N .GRYAZIN 29
10. (CZE) M. PROKOP28