Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya by nearly two minutes over Ott Tanak, with Kalle Rovanpera’s challenge faltering due to mishaps. Thierry Neuville holds third despite facing difficulties, and the final day offers five more stages in a tumultuous event.
In the ongoing Safari Rally Kenya, Elfyn Evans of Toyota leads significantly with nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak as the competition heads into its final day. Initially, Evans entered Saturday with just a 7.7-second gap over teammate Kalle Rovanpera but solidified his position by winning the first two stages, ultimately finishing 1 minute and 57.4 seconds ahead of Tanak.
Evans is poised for a potential first victory at Safari, 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 sits in third place, although he trails the leader by over four and a half minutes after facing multiple difficulties such as punctures and obscured visibility.
Neuville commented on the challenging conditions, reflecting, “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.
Rovanpera’s challenge diminished due to a front-right tyre delamination followed by a front-left puncture, and by the end of the day, adverse weather led to damaged rear suspension, leaving him in fifth place overall. The final day of the rally includes five more stages, promising more excitement ahead.
Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial gap of nearly two minutes over Ott Tanak, marking a strong position for potential victory. Despite a chaotic day characterized by extreme conditions and vehicle challenges, Evans and Neuville maintained competitive standings. The closing stages promise further developments in this thrilling rally.
Original Source: theprint.in
