Evans Leads Safari Rally Kenya as McErlean Faces Challenges

Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial almost two-minute lead over Ott Tanak, while Josh McErlean falls back to 13th after several setbacks. The final day promises more excitement with five stages remaining, as competitors brace for unpredictable challenges.

Elfyn Evans, the championship leader from Toyota, heads into the concluding day of the Safari Rally Kenya with a substantial lead of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. Meanwhile, his teammate Kalle Rovanpera faced challenges that caused his competitive edge to diminish, while Josh McErlean from Ireland fell to 13th overall after a difficult day.

On Saturday, McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy began in seventh position but encountered setbacks, including a broken steering arm in the opening stage, which pushed them back to 15th. Demonstrating commendable perseverance, McErlean achieved the second fastest time on stage 15, following M-Sport teammate Grégoire Munster.

Evans’ performance was impressive as he commenced the day with a mere 7.7 seconds lead over Rovanpera, ultimately securing victories in the first two stages. By the end of the day, he extended his lead to one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak. If Evans maintains his momentum, he is poised for his inaugural Safari Rally victory.

Reflecting on his experience, 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.”

Thierry Neuville, Hyundai’s reigning champion, managed to secure third place despite being over four and a half minutes behind the leader, facing challenges such as punctures and misted windscreens. Takamoto Katsuta, accompanied by Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston, followed closely in fourth place. Neuville shared his struggles, stating, “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.”

Rovanpera’s aspirations for victory faltered after he experienced a front-right tyre delamination and additional front-left puncture. The adverse weather conditions later resulted in rear suspension damage, leading to a drop to fifth place overall. The final day will feature five additional stages for competitors to navigate.

Elfyn Evans currently leads the Safari Rally Kenya with a notable advantage, while Josh McErlean faced difficulties, ultimately slipping to 13th place. Despite setbacks, Evans is well-positioned to secure his first victory, contingent upon maintaining stability. The challenges faced by Rovanpera and Neuville highlight the unpredictable nature of the rally, setting the stage for an intense conclusion with five more stages to compete on Sunday.

Original Source: www.rte.ie