Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a significant margin over Ott Tanak. Josh McErlean struggles, falling to 13th despite a strong performance on stage 15. Neuville is third, facing challenging conditions, while Rovanpera drops to fifth after tire issues. The final day consists of five remaining stages.
Elfyn Evans, the leader of the Toyota championship, heads into the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial lead of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. The day turned chaotic for teammate Kalle Rovanpera, whose earlier challenge diminished, while Ireland’s Josh McErlean fell back to 13th place overall after a tumultuous Saturday.
McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy commenced Saturday in seventh place, but faced difficulties reminiscent of Friday’s challenges. Following a broken steering arm during the first stage, McErlean dropped to 15th place. Nevertheless, he demonstrated his determination by securing the second-fastest time on stage 15, trailing only behind fellow M-Sport competitor Grégoire Munster.
On the other hand, Evans, starting the day just 7.7 seconds ahead of Rovanpera, excelled by winning the initial two stages. He ultimately finished the day with a commanding lead of one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak, positioning him for a potential first victory at the Safari Rally.
Evans remarked, “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.”
Currently in third place is Hyundai’s reigning champion Thierry Neuville, who trails the leader by over four and a half minutes after enduring a day plagued by punctures and misted windscreens. Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, teamed with Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, sits in fourth.
Neuville stated, “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. We’ve had some rough Safari Rally Kenyas in the past, but this is the roughest so far.”
Rovanpera’s chances for the lead were dashed after experiencing a delaminated front-right tire followed by a front-left puncture, compounded by afternoon rain that impaired his rear suspension. This series of misfortunes resulted in him dropping to fifth place overall. The final day of the rally promises five additional stages.
As competitors approach the final day of the Safari Rally Kenya, Elfyn Evans holds a nearly two-minute lead, positioning himself for a potential victory while facing unpredictable rally conditions. Josh McErlean experiences a challenging day, slipping to 13th. Despite difficulties, Neuville maintains third place, and Rovanpera’s hopes of contention fade after tire issues. The final stages remain critical as participants aim to secure their standings in this demanding rally.
Original Source: www.rte.ie
