Evans Maintains Lead in Safari Rally Kenya Amidst Challenging Conditions
Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya by nearly two minutes over Ott Tanak, while Josh McErlean drops to 13th after a challenging day. Rovanpera’s hopes faded due to tire issues, and Thierry Neuville stands third despite rough conditions. The final day has five more stages ahead.
Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya, entering the final day with a significant advantage of nearly two minutes over Hyundai’s Ott Tanak. The previous day proved chaotic for Evans’ teammate Kalle Rovanpera, whose challenge diminished. Ireland’s Josh McErlean fell to 13th overall after a series of setbacks during the stages on Saturday, where he began in seventh position with co-driver Eoin Treacy.
McErlean encountered difficulties early on, including a broken steering arm, causing his position to drop to 15th. Despite the challenges, he demonstrated resilience, achieving the second fastest time on stage 15, trailing behind fellow M-Sport competitor Grégoire Munster. This spirited performance marks a shift for McErlean amidst the unpredictable circumstances of the day.
Evans commenced Saturday only 7.7 seconds ahead of Rovanpera but successfully won the opening two stages, ultimately finishing the day with a lead of one minute and 57.4 seconds over Tanak. If he maintains his lead and avoids any complications, Evans is poised to secure his first victory at this event.
“It’s definitely been a proper Safari so far,” stated 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.” Meanwhile, reigning champion Thierry Neuville from Hyundai secured third place, though he remained over four and a half minutes behind the leader, grappling with punctures and challenging conditions throughout the day.
Neuville observed, “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. 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.” In contrast, Rovanpera’s podium hopes faded due to a series of tire issues, including a delamination and punctures, resulting in a drop to fifth overall. The final day of the rally will feature five additional stages.
In conclusion, Elfyn Evans leads the Safari Rally Kenya significantly, demonstrating strong performance amidst challenging conditions. Despite setbacks faced by competitors like Josh McErlean and Kalle Rovanpera, Evans’ impressive strategy may secure him victory. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville also persevered despite difficulties, concluding the day in third place. As the rally approaches its final stages, the outcome remains thrilling and unpredictable.
Original Source: www.rte.ie
