Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Ott Tanak as Kalle Rovanpera’s challenge falters. Josh McErlean drops to 13th after mechanical issues but shows resilience with a strong stage performance. Thierry Neuville secures third place despite difficult conditions, while Rovanpera’s hopes diminish after tire issues. The final day poses more challenges ahead with several stages left.
Elfyn Evans, the leader of the championship, heads into the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a formidable advantage of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. Meanwhile, Kalle Rovanpera, Evans’s teammate, saw his chances diminish amid a tumultuous Saturday, which was particularly challenging for Ireland’s Josh McErlean, who fell to 13th place overall.
McErlean and his co-driver Eoin Treacy began Saturday’s stages in seventh place, but the day turned out to be equally unpredictable as the previous one. Following a broken steering arm that required repair during the first stage, McErlean dropped to 15th position. Nevertheless, he exhibited impressive tenacity by achieving the second fastest time on stage 15, trailing only M-Sport teammate Grégoire Munster.
Elfyn Evans started the day with only a marginal lead of 7.7 seconds over Rovanpera but quickly gained momentum, winning the first two stages. By the end of the day, he had extended his lead to one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak, positioning himself favorably for his first Safari victory. “It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far,” Evans remarked. “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.”
Hyundai’s reigning champion Thierry Neuville managed to secure third place despite a challenging day riddled with punctures and fogged windscreens. Neuville, who faced health issues that hindered his focus, expressed relief at maintaining third: “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.”
Rovanpera’s opportunity to lead the race evaporated when he experienced a front-right tyre delamination followed by a front-left puncture. The deteriorating weather conditions in the afternoon exacerbated the situation, leading to damage in his rear suspension and prompting his drop to fifth place overall. With five stages remaining on Sunday, the competition remains intense and unpredictable.
In conclusion, the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya promises to be thrilling, with Elfyn Evans holding a critical lead. Despite challenges faced by competitors like Josh McErlean and Kalle Rovanpera, the resilience demonstrated by drivers contributes to the event’s unpredictability. Thierry Neuville’s statement highlights the extreme conditions that could impact the outcomes of the remaining stages, making the results highly uncertain until the end.
Original Source: www.rte.ie
