Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya by nearly two minutes, with Ott Tanak in second. Thierry Neuville is third but far behind, while Kalle Rovanpera fell to fifth due to tire issues. The rally continues into its final day with five stages remaining.
Elfyn Evans, the championship leader from Toyota, leads the final day of the Safari Rally in Kenya with a substantial advantage of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. Starting the day just 7.7 seconds ahead of teammate Kalle Rovanpera, Evans won the first two stages and finished with a commanding lead of one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak, positioning him favorably for his first Safari victory.
“It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far,” stated Evans, noting the unpredictability of the terrain. Despite possessing a significant lead, he acknowledged, “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.”
Thierry Neuville, the reigning champion from Hyundai, occupies third place, trailing over four and a half minutes behind the leader due to a series of punctures and challenging driving conditions. His teammate, Takamoto Katsuta, is in fourth place.
Neuville expressed the challenges of the day, remarking, “I wasn’t feeling well at all after a bad night and struggled… 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.”
Kalle Rovanpera’s hopes dwindled when he faced a front-right tire delamination, followed by a front-left puncture. The rainy conditions worsened his situation, damaging his rear suspension and sending him down to fifth place. The final day of the rally will feature five more stages.
In summary, Elfyn Evans maintains a strong position at the Safari Rally Kenya with significant lead amidst difficult conditions. Despite competitors battling with tire issues and unpredictable elements, the event illustrates the challenges inherent to rally racing, particularly in the Kenyan terrain. With one last day to navigate, Evans appears poised for a potential victory, though caution remains essential.
Original Source: theprint.in
