Elfyn Evans Dominates Safari Rally Kenya as McErlean Faces Setbacks

Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya by nearly two minutes, with Ott Tanak in second place. Josh McErlean faced challenges, slipping to 13th overall after a difficult day. The competition remains intense as Sunday features five more stages for the drivers to contend with.

Elfyn Evans, the championship leader from Toyota, enters the final day of Safari Rally Kenya with a significant nearly two-minute lead over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. His teammate, Kalle Rovanpera, saw his competitive edge diminish during a tumultuous Saturday, while Ireland’s Josh McErlean experienced a setback, falling to 13th place overall.

Initially starting the day in seventh place, McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy had a challenging day ahead. After repairing a broken steering arm in the morning stages, McErlean dropped to 15th but later demonstrated resilience by achieving the second fastest time on stage 15, finishing behind his fellow M-Sport driver, Grégoire Munster.

In contrast, Evans began the day merely 7.7 seconds ahead of Rovanpera but excelled by winning the first two stages, ultimately securing a lead of one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak. With a solid performance, Evans appears poised for his first Safari victory. He remarked, “It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far; on a rally like Kenya, you have to weigh up the risk factor.”

Thierry Neuville, the reigning Hyundai champion, is positioned in third place, trailing over four and a half minutes behind the leader. He described the day as grueling, stating, “I haven’t seen anything like it in my career. This is the roughest Safari Rally Kenya so far.” Meanwhile, Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota, accompanied by Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, currently holds fourth place.

Rovanpera’s chances diminished significantly after suffering a front-right tyre delamination, followed by a front-left puncture. Adverse rainy conditions compounded his troubles, causing rear suspension damage that pushed him to fifth overall. The final day promises five more stages full of potential for shifting positions.

In summary, Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a commendable margin, positioning himself favorably for a potential victory. Despite setbacks, McErlean retains competitive spirit, while other drivers like Neuville and Katsuta navigate challenging conditions. Rovanpera’s misfortunes highlight the unpredictable nature of rallying, ensuring an engaging conclusion is anticipated on the final day with five stages remaining.

Original Source: www.rte.ie