Elfyn Evans strengthens his lead in a dramatic Safari Rally Kenya as treacherous terrain and tyre troubles shake up the standings.
Tough weather conditions have turned Safari Rally Kenya into a brutal battlefield, but Elfyn Evans has emerged as the commanding force, extending his lead at the top after a punishing Saturday morning loop.
The Welshman, driving for Toyota GAZOO Racing, mastered the treacherous African terrain and opened up a substantial 1min 32.5sec advantage over his team-mate and defending world champion Kalle Rovanperä.
After finishing Friday with a slim 7.7-second buffer, Evans made an assertive start to Saturday on the legendary Sleeping Warrior stage.
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Despite sustaining rear tyre damage near the end of the 26.97-kilometre test, he delivered a blistering time that widened the gap to Rovanperä by another 8.2 seconds.
But the drama was only beginning.
The notorious Kenyan conditions – deep ruts, jagged rocks, and vast swathes of standing water – began to take their toll, and Rovanperä was the first major casualty.
On SS12, Elmenteita, the Finn suffered a front-right tyre deflation with just five kilometres left, costing him 21.1 seconds. His hopes of reeling in Evans took another blow on the very next stage at Soysambu, where a front-left puncture added a further 55.5 seconds to his deficit.
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It was a disastrous morning for the two-time Safari Rally winner, who has often excelled in adversity. But on this occasion, even his typically calm composure couldn’t save him from the cruel hand dealt by Kenya’s unforgiving landscape.
“Anything can happen here, and today it did,” Rovanpera reflected at the midday service.
“I tried to push where I could, but with two punctures in two stages, it was just about survival.”
Evans, meanwhile, stayed focused and consistent. While others faltered, he navigated the treacherous terrain with just enough aggression to stay ahead, but enough caution to avoid catastrophe. His calm under pressure could prove the difference as the rally heads into its decisive final stages.
Behind the Toyota duo, Ott Tanak held steady in third, more than a minute behind Rovanperä but driving with maturity and precision.
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The M-Sport Ford driver avoided the worst of the morning’s chaos and looks well-positioned for a strong podium finish.
There was more heartbreak for Hyundai’s Thierry Neuville, who had started the day in fourth but dropped to fifth after stopping to change a wheel early on.
That setback allowed Takamoto Katsuta to leapfrog the Belgian. Despite a half-spin on Sleeping Warrior, Katsuta showed strong pace and even claimed a stage win on SS13, ending the loop 1min 29.4sec ahead of Neuville and just under two minutes behind Tänak.
In WRC2, Finnish youngster Sami Pajari continued to dominate, sitting comfortably in sixth overall and remaining unchallenged in class. Jan Solans also impressed by overtaking Gus Greensmith to claim seventh and the WRC2 lead, while Greensmith slipped to eighth after a subdued morning.
Rounding out the top 10 were Grégoire Munster and Fabrizio Zaldivar, both navigating the challenging stages with resilience.