Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Ott Tanak, following a successful day where he won the opening stages. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville is in third, while Rovanpera’s challenge faded due to tyre issues. The final day features five more stages, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the event.
Elfyn Evans of Toyota, currently leading the championship, enters the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial lead of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. After starting the day just 7.7 seconds ahead of teammate Kalle Rovanpera, Evans won the first two stages, extending his advantage to one minute and 57.4 seconds ahead of Tanak. If he manages to navigate the remaining stages without incident, Evans is poised for his maiden Safari victory.
Evans remarked on the unpredictability of the race, stating, “It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far. 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 lies in third place over four and a half minutes behind the leader, facing challenges such as punctures and obscured visibility due to misted windscreens, with Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta positioned fourth.
Neuville expressed his struggles throughout the day, noting, “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. 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.” Rovanpera’s quest for the lead was derailed after suffering a front-right tyre delamination followed by another puncture, compounded by rainy conditions that damaged his rear suspension, leaving him in fifth overall. The final day of the rally will consist of five additional stages.
In conclusion, Elfyn Evans holds a commanding lead in the Safari Rally Kenya as he prepares for the final day. With a significant gap over his competitors, including Ott Tanak and Thierry Neuville, Evans is in a strong position to secure his first win in this challenging rally. However, the unpredictable nature of the rally environment necessitates caution and strategy. The upcoming five stages will be critical as the competition progresses.
Original Source: theprint.in
