Elfyn Evans Extends Lead in Chaotic Safari Rally Kenya

Elfyn Evans of Toyota leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Ott Tanak of Hyundai. After a challenging Saturday, Kalle Rovanpera’s hopes faded, placing him fifth overall. Thierry Neuville is currently third, significantly behind. The final day will feature five more stages, creating an opportunity for unexpected outcomes.

In the ongoing Safari Rally Kenya, Toyota’s Elfyn Evans has significantly extended his lead, holding a nearly two-minute advantage over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak as Kalle Rovanpera’s challenge dwindled on a tumultuous Saturday. Initially starting only 7.7 seconds ahead of Rovanpera, Evans excelled in the opening two stages, ultimately concluding the day with a 1 minute and 57.4 seconds lead over Tanak.

If he maintains his current trajectory without incident, Evans is poised for his first Safari victory. He commented, “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.”

Thierry Neuville, the reigning champion from Hyundai, is in third position but trails by over four and a half minutes due to a series of punctures and misted windscreens, while Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta holds fourth place. Neuville remarked, “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.”

He further noted, “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 aspirations of seizing the lead vanished after encountering a front-right tyre delamination followed by a front-left puncture.

The adverse conditions led to rear suspension damage, consequently dropping Rovanpera to fifth overall. The final day of the rally will feature five additional stages, setting the stage for a dramatic conclusion.

In summary, Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial margin, positioned for potential victory barring any unforeseen issues. Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville is in third place despite challenging conditions, while Kalle Rovanpera’s misfortunes have relegated him to fifth. The final day promises to be exciting with five stages remaining.

Original Source: theprint.in