Ott Tänak Secures Second Place at Rally Safari Kenya as Final Stage Approaches
Ott Tänak is currently in second place at Rally Safari Kenya, trailing leader Elfyn Evans by 1:57.4 after 16 stages. Despite previous technical issues, Tänak’s performance improved on Saturday, culminating in a stage win. He faces challenges from both Evans and Thierry Neuville as the final day of the rally approaches.
Ott Tänak, the esteemed rally driver for Hyundai, is currently positioned in second place at the Rally Safari Kenya, which is the third round of the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season. He trails behind Toyota’s Elfyn Evans of Wales by a margin of 1 minute and 57.4 seconds following the completion of 16 challenging stages.
In the preceding races, Tänak secured a fifth-place finish at the Monte Carlo Rally and improved to fourth place at last month’s Rally Sweden. Rally Kenya marks the onset of the gravel rally season, characterized by difficult conditions due to the spring rainy season and a landscape marked by wildlife encounters along the route.
Tänak, who achieved world champion status in 2019, has yet to claim victory in Kenya, with his only podium finish occurring in 2021. Historically, the previous four races in Kenya have been dominated by Toyota drivers, Kalle Rovanperä and Sébastien Ogier, the latter being an eight-time world champion.
During the early phases of the event, Tänak demonstrated his potential by securing the lead on Thursday after the initial stages but faced a setback on Friday due to technical difficulties, despite having previously won four stages and establishing a lead over Evans. A broken drive shaft and a tire failure ultimately led to a loss of time, placing him at a disadvantage.
On Saturday, Tänak’s performance fluctuated, but he managed to be competitive despite challenging muddy conditions. He continued to post commendable times, finishing second in the 13th stage. However, Rovanperä’s car endured a puncture during this stage, thereby decreasing their time gap significantly.
The afternoon sessions presented further unpredictability due to rain, causing visibility issues for Tänak, who faced a malfunctioning defroster that resulted in a time disadvantage. Nevertheless, Rovanperä encountered further issues with his car’s suspension, allowing Tänak to ascend to second place following the penultimate 15th stage. He concluded the day with a strong performance, winning the final stage.
Evans remains in the lead, nearly two minutes ahead of Tänak, who is now followed closely by Thierry Neuville in third position, with Rovanperä slipping to fifth. The final day of the rally will feature five additional stages, covering 65.99 kilometers, commencing at 5:42 a.m. Estonian time, equating to 6:42 a.m. in Kenya.
As Rally Safari Kenya approaches its conclusion, Ott Tänak stands poised in second place, having navigated a series of challenges throughout the event. His resilience is noteworthy, especially in light of his technical setbacks and the adverse weather conditions. With five stages remaining on the final day, Tänak’s capacity to contend with the pressures from competitors like Elfyn Evans and Thierry Neuville will be crucial to his ultimate performance in this rally.
Original Source: news.err.ee
