Ott Tänak is currently in second place at the Rally Safari Kenya, 1:57.4 behind leader Elfyn Evans. Technical challenges have hindered Tänak, a past world champion, as he strives for his first victory in Kenya. With Saturday’s stage wins, he remains competitive, heading into the final day of the event.
Ott Tänak, representing Hyundai, currently occupies second place in the Rally Safari Kenya, which is the third round of the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season. He trails behind first-place driver Elfyn Evans of Toyota by 1 minute and 57.4 seconds after completing 16 stages of the competition. Tänak’s performance has shown improvement throughout the season, initially finishing fifth in Monte Carlo and then moving up to fourth at Rally Sweden.
The Rally Safari Kenya, noted for its challenging gravel terrain, has been impacted by the spring rainy season, presenting drivers with rocky conditions and an array of wildlife. Tänak, who has yet to secure a victory in Kenya, has only made it to the podium once, in 2021. The prior four races have been dominated by Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier, both driving for Toyota.
Tänak demonstrated promising potential by attaining third place during the Wednesday shakedown, just behind his teammate Thierry Neuville. On the first full day of competition, he briefly seized the lead but faced setbacks due to technical issues that caused him to drop to third place. Despite these challenges, Tänak salvaged a stage win, although mechanical failures led to a significant time deficit against Evans.
Saturday morning saw Evans manage the difficult muddy conditions effectively, thereby increasing his lead. Despite this, Tänak performed admirably, recording the fourth fastest times in the initial stages of the day. However, he faced further obstacles including a faulty windshield defroster and competitive issues for Rovanperä, which allowed him to climb to second overall.
As Saturday progressed, Tänak concluded the day successfully by winning the 16th stage, gaining momentum against his rivals. Evans remains secure in his lead, ahead of Tänak by nearly two minutes as they approach the final day of the rally. Neuville is in third place, while Rovanperä experiences difficulties, dropping to fifth. The concluding stages of the event will take place on Sunday, comprising a total distance of 65.99 kilometers, commencing early in the morning.
In summary, Ott Tänak heads into the final day of Rally Safari Kenya in second place, trailing Elfyn Evans by a substantial margin. The race, characterized by challenging conditions, has seen Tänak face various technical issues while still managing to secure key stage wins. Sunday presents an opportunity for Tänak to improve his standings as he pursues his first win in Kenya despite the current challenges posed by the competition and the rally’s demanding terrain.
Original Source: news.err.ee
