Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute margin over Ott Tanak. Following troublesome conditions, Kalle Rovanpera fell back to fifth, while Josh McErlean dropped to 13th. Thierry Neuville secured third, facing his own set of difficulties in challenging weather. The final day includes five stages, keeping the competition intense.
Elfyn Evans enters the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial lead of nearly two minutes over Ott Tanak from Hyundai. His teammate, Kalle Rovanpera, faced difficulties that diminished his competitive standing on a tumultuous Saturday, leading to Josh McErlean’s drop to 13th place overall. McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy began the day in seventh place but encountered problems early, requiring repairs to a broken steering arm that pushed them down to 15th position. Nevertheless, McErlean showcased his tenacity by posting the second fastest time on stage 15, just behind M-Sport’s Grégoire Munster.
Evans started Saturday only 7.7 seconds ahead of Rovanpera but quickly expanded his lead, winning the first two stages and placing himself 1 minute and 57.4 seconds ahead of Tanak. If he navigates the remaining stages safely, Evans stands on the cusp of his first Safari Rally victory. He commented, “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.”
In third place, Hyundai’s reigning champion Thierry Neuville faced challenges of his own, contending with a series of punctures and visibility issues. Neuville finished the day over four and a half minutes behind Evans, expressing his concerns about the adverse conditions: “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.” He further added, “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 hopes were dashed due to a delaminated front-right tire followed by a puncture on the front-left. The challenging afternoon weather exacerbated his situation, causing damage to his rear suspension and resulting in a retreat to fifth overall. The final day of the rally features five more stages, presenting both opportunities and challenges for the competitors.
In summary, Elfyn Evans has established a commanding lead in the Safari Rally Kenya, while his competitors, including Rovanpera and McErlean, faced significant challenges that impacted their standings. The adverse conditions tested drivers’ resilience, notably affecting Neuville’s performance as well. With one final day featuring multiple stages remaining, the outcome remains uncertain, and fortune may yet influence the results.
Original Source: www.rte.ie
