Elfyn Evans won the Safari Rally Kenya, increasing his WRC lead to 36 points. He finished over a minute ahead of Ott Tanak, who suffered mechanical issues. The win in Kenya supplemented his earlier victory in Sweden, bringing his total points to 88. The next round is scheduled for Rally Islas Canarias in April.
Elfyn Evans triumphed at the Safari Rally in Kenya, securing a significant victory that allows him to extend his lead in the World Rally Championship (WRC) standings to 36 points. This marks the first instance of back-to-back victories for the 36-year-old Welsh driver, who finished over a minute ahead of Estonian competitor, Ott Tanak. Though Tanak initially led the rally, he encountered issues with a broken driveshaft on Friday. Meanwhile, Evans’ Toyota teammate, Kalle Rovanpera, faced a series of problems that ultimately forced his retirement from the event.
Evans expressed appreciation for his team’s efforts, stating, “A huge well done to the team, they did a great job and I’m proud to be a very small part of Toyota’s history at this special rally,” and extended gratitude to the Kenyan people for their warm welcome. After winning the opening stage on Thursday and two stages on Saturday, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin entered Sunday with a lead approaching two minutes. However, due to the challenging nature of the rally, they opted for a cautious strategy in the final stages.
Although they relinquished 47 seconds on the last day, they still finished with a robust lead of one minute and 9.9 seconds ahead of Tanak. Thierry Neuville followed in third place, finishing over three minutes behind. The victory awarded Evans 25 points, bringing his total to 88, enhancing his positions gained from a prior win in Sweden and a runner-up finish in Monte Carlo. Neuville advanced to second place in the standings with 52 points, while Tanak climbed to third with 49.
Josh McErlean from Northern Ireland experienced mixed results in his third WRC event. He lost significant time during Saturday’s opening run due to a broken steering arm but rebounded to deliver an impressive performance, achieving the second-best time on stage 15. He finished 11th in Kenya, earning one Super Sunday point while maintaining his 11th position in the overall standings.
The next event on the WRC calendar is Round Four, the Rally Islas Canarias, scheduled for April 24-27. The final results for the Safari Rally Kenya are as follows:
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 4 hours 20 minutes 3.8 seconds
2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +1 minute 09.9 seconds
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3 minutes 32.0 seconds
4. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, +7 minutes 18.7 seconds
5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +8 minutes 15.7 seconds
6. Gregoire Munster (Luxembourg), Ford, +11 minutes 35.3 seconds
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +37 minutes 15.8 seconds.
The provisional FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ standings are:
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 88 points
2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 52 points
3. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 49 points
4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 35 points
5. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 33 points
6. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 31 points
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 7 points.
Elfyn Evans’s victory at the Safari Rally Kenya has significantly solidified his lead in the World Rally Championship standings, firmly establishing his presence in the competitive arena. His strategy during the race and commendable performances have set him apart, while competitors such as Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville continue to challenge him. As the series progresses toward the next event in the Canary Islands, the dynamics of the standings are poised to shift.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
