Elfyn Evans Maintains Lead in Safari Rally Kenya Amidst Turbulent Conditions

Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a nearly two-minute advantage over Ott Tanak, while McErlean struggles in 13th after challenges. Neuville sits third despite difficulties. Rovanpera’s hopes faded due to mechanical issues, with five stages remaining for the concluding day.

Elfyn Evans, the leader of the championship, is poised to conclude the Safari Rally Kenya with a significant lead, nearly two minutes ahead of Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. This advantage comes after a chaotic Saturday where his teammate Kalle Rovanpera’s prospects diminished, and Ireland’s Josh McErlean fell to 13th place.

Starting the day in seventh position, McErlean and his co-driver Eoin Treacy faced another tumultuous day. A broken steering arm in the opening stage set them back to 15th place, but McErlean demonstrated resilience by recording the second fastest time on stage 15, trailing only M-Sport’s Grégoire Munster.

Evans began Saturday’s stages with a negligible lead of 7.7 seconds over Rovanpera. However, he swiftly won the first two stages, ending the day with a lead of one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak and positioning himself to claim his first Safari victory. “It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far,” remarked Evans. “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 of Hyundai secured third place, though he trailed the leader by over four and a half minutes, struggling throughout the day due to punctures and obstructive mist on the windscreen. Additionally, Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta, supported by Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, maintained fourth position. Neuville expressed his challenges: “I wasn’t feeling well at all after a bad night and struggled to keep my concentration… We’ve had some rough Safari Rally Kenyas in the past, but this is the roughest so far.”

Rovanpera’s aspirations evaporated due to a front-right tyre delamination followed by a front-left puncture. Adverse weather conditions in the afternoon caused rear suspension damage, resulting in a drop to fifth place overall. The final day will feature five additional stages, adding further excitement to the rally.

In summary, Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a robust advantage, setting the stage for a potential victory. Meanwhile, McErlean faced numerous challenges but exhibited commendable fortitude. Neuville’s resilience in extreme conditions and Rovanpera’s setbacks highlight the unpredictable nature of rally sports. With five stages remaining, the conclusion of the rally promises to be thrilling.

Original Source: www.rte.ie