Ott Tänak leads Rally Kenya after two stages on Thursday, followed by Takamoto Katsuta and Gregoire Munster. Elfyn Evans set the fastest initial stage, but Tänak’s strong performance in the second stage earned him the overall lead. Rally continues Friday at 6:28 a.m. Estonian time.
The 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season is unfolding in Kenya, showcasing challenging terrains. After Thursday’s two special stages, Estonia’s Ott Tänak from Hyundai is in the lead, clocking a time that places him 2.4 seconds ahead of his nearest competitor, Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota.
The initial stage of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya was clinched by Elfyn Evans of Toyota, who finished with a time of 3 minutes 09.09 seconds. Kalle Rovanperä and Thierry Neuville, both from Toyota and Hyundai respectively, tied for joint second, trailing Evans by 1.5 seconds. Tänak began the rally in fourth place, just 2.2 seconds off the pace.
In the second stage, Tänak recorded the fastest time, consequently rising to the top of the leaderboard. Katsuta was a strong contender, briefly leading during the earlier stages, but ultimately completed the second stage in second place, 1.1 seconds behind Tänak. Gregoire Munster from M-Sport Ford secured third, finishing 2.3 seconds behind the leader.
Following Thursday’s action, the overall standings mirror the outcomes of the stages with Tänak leading, Katsuta in second, and Munster in third, separated by 2.4 and 2.6 seconds respectively. Rovanperä, the previous year’s winner, trails the leaders by 3.0 seconds.
Rally Kenya will continue on Friday at 6:28 a.m. Estonian time.
Ott Tänak’s performance on Thursday at Rally Kenya places him in a commanding position, leading by 2.4 seconds. Elfyn Evans, Kalle Rovanperä, and Thierry Neuville showed strong early performances, while Takamoto Katsuta remains a fierce competitor. As the rally progresses, Tänak’s ability to maintain this lead will be crucial in determining the overall outcome of the event.
Original Source: news.err.ee
