NAIVASHA, Kenya, June 21 (Xinhua) -- Japanese driver Takamoto Katsuta was an early casualty of the brutal Safari Rally when he rolled his Toyota during the shakedown of the seventh round of the 2023 World Rally Championship on Wednesday.

Katsuta, who finished second in the 2021 Safari Rally, had completed two runs without incident in the warm-up stage before 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 stunned Japanese told the WRC website.

Katsuta is expected to start the Safari Rally on Thursday after extensive repairs to his heavily damaged vehicle.

Cars move to Nairobi for the ceremonial start on Thursday before action starts with the Super Special Stage in Kasarani, 16km from the Central Business District.

The cars will then return to Naivasha for the main rally from Friday to Sunday.