Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Ott Tanak after a tumultuous Saturday. Despite Rovanpera’s early challenge, difficult conditions saw him drop to fifth. Thierry Neuville battles for third place after facing various issues. The final day has five stages remaining.
Elfyn Evans, the championship leader from Toyota, heads into the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a significant lead of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak, following a tumultuous Saturday. Initially starting the day with a mere 7.7 seconds lead over his teammate Kalle Rovanpera, Evans triumphed in the first two stages, ultimately extending his advantage to one minute and 57.4 seconds ahead of Tanak. Assuming he navigates carefully, Evans is poised to secure his first victory in this challenging rally.
“It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far,” Evans stated. “Two minutes: Normally you would say that guarantees you a win but not here. On a rally like Kenya you have to weigh up the risk factor.” Meanwhile, reigning champion Thierry Neuville from Hyundai occupies third place, yet he trails over four and a half minutes behind after battling against punctures and obscured windscreens, while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta is in fourth position.
“I wasn’t feeling well at all after a bad night and struggled to keep my concentration and do my job, but we kept fighting and we were rewarded with third place overnight,” Neuville expressed. He commented on the extreme conditions faced during the rally, stating, “Those were some extreme conditions this afternoon — I haven’t seen anything like it in my career. We’ve had some rough Safari Rally Kenyas in the past, but this is the roughest so far.”
Kalle Rovanpera’s chance to take the lead dissipated due to a front-right tyre delamination followed by a front-left puncture. The rainy weather in the afternoon further damaged his rear suspension, resulting in a drop to fifth place overall. The final day of the rally will feature five additional stages, adding to the excitement and unpredictability of this prestigious event.
(Reporting by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Christian Radnedge)
The Safari Rally Kenya remains unpredictable as Elfyn Evans maintains a robust lead heading into the final day, while challenges mount for competitors like Kalle Rovanpera. With adverse weather conditions impacting performances and a considerable gap between the leaders, the outcome remains uncertain. Evans’ cautious optimism and Neuville’s resilience amid difficulties underscored the rally’s demanding nature.
Original Source: theprint.in
