Ott Tänak of Estonia leads Rally Kenya after Thursday’s races, with Takamoto Katsuta trailing by 2.4 seconds. Elfyn Evans won the first stage, while Tänak secured the fastest time in the second stage to take the overall lead. The top competitors remain closely bunched in the overall standings as the rally continues into Friday.
The 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season progresses this week on Kenya’s challenging roads. Following the initial two speed tests on Thursday, Estonia’s Ott Tänak, representing Hyundai, leads the competition by 2.4 seconds over his nearest competitor, Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota.
During the first special stage of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya, Elfyn Evans, also from Toyota, emerged victorious with a time of 3 minutes 09.09 seconds. He was closely followed by Kalle Rovanperä of Toyota and Thierry Neuville of Hyundai, both finishing 1.5 seconds behind the leader. Ott Tänak secured fourth place in this stage, trailing Evans by 2.2 seconds.
In the second stage, Tänak achieved the fastest time, subsequently claiming the overall lead. Katsuta has proven to be a formidable contender, initially ahead of Tänak during the halfway point but ultimately lost time to finish in second place, 1.1 seconds adrift. Gregoire Munster from M-Sport Ford rounded out the top three, finishing third overall at 2.3 seconds behind Tänak.
At the end of Thursday’s racing, the top positions were held by Tänak, followed by Katsuta 2.4 seconds behind and Munster at 2.6 seconds behind. Last year’s Safari Rally Kenya champion, Kalle Rovanperä, is in close pursuit, positioned 3.0 seconds behind the leader.
Rally Kenya is set to continue on Friday at 6:28 a.m. local Estonian time.
Ott Tänak currently leads the Rally Kenya event, showcasing strong performance with a narrow lead over Takamoto Katsuta. The competition remains fierce, with several drivers closely contesting for the top positions, setting the stage for an exciting continuation of the rally. As the event resumes on Friday, spectators await further developments in this thrilling racing season.
Original Source: news.err.ee
