Elfyn Evans Dominates Safari Rally Kenya, Extending WRC Lead

Elfyn Evans won the Safari Rally Kenya, extending his WRC lead to 36 points. He finished over a minute ahead of Ott Tanak, who faced technical issues. Evans gathered 25 points from this victory, totaling 88 points in the championship, with Thierry Neuville and Tanak trailing in the standings. The next round is the Rally Islas Canarias from April 24-27.

Elfyn Evans triumphed in the Safari Rally Kenya, successfully extending his lead in the World Rally Championship (WRC) to 36 points following three rounds. This victory marks the first instance of back-to-back wins for the 36-year-old Welshman, who secured a commanding finish over Estonian competitor Ott Tanak by more than a minute. Tanak, driving for Hyundai, initially led the race but faced technical difficulties, while Evans’ teammate Kalle Rovanpera had to retire due to multiple issues.

Evans expressed his gratitude, stating, “A huge well done to the team, they did a great job and I’m proud to be a very small part of Toyota’s history at this special rally. I want to say thank you to everyone in Kenya for a very warm welcome and an amazing rally.” Throughout the competition, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin maintained a strategic approach, leading by just under two minutes as they entered the final stages on Sunday, ultimately finishing with a time of 4 hours, 20 minutes, and 3.8 seconds.

Despite a calculated safety-first strategy on the last day that cost them 47 seconds, the Gazoo Racing duo managed to secure victory, finishing 1 minute and 9.9 seconds ahead of Tanak. Thierry Neuville from Belgium took third place, finishing 3 minutes and 32 seconds after Evans. The victory contributed to Evans’ total of 88 points, bolstered by his first-place win in Sweden and a second-place finish at the Rallye Monte Carlo.

Neuville has ascended to second place in the championship standings with 52 points, followed closely by Tanak with 49 points. Northern Ireland’s Josh McErlean experienced a challenging event, initially losing significant time due to a steering arm issue in his Ford M-Sport Puma yet managed to demonstrate resilience by achieving the second-best time on stage 15 and finishing in 11th place, still maintaining his overall rank.

The next event in the WRC calendar is the Rally Islas Canarias, scheduled from April 24 to April 27, sets the stage for further competition. The results of the Safari Rally Kenya indicate:

1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 4 hours 20 minutes 3.8 seconds
2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +1min 09.9 secs
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3mins 32.0 secs
4. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, +7mins 18.7 secs
5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +8mins 15.7 secs
6. Gregoire Munster (Luxembourg), Ford, +11mins 35.3 secs
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +37mins 15.8 secs

The provisional FIA World Rally Championship drivers’ standings are as follows:
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 88 points
2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 52
3. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 49
4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 35
5. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 33
6. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 31
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 7.

Elfyn Evans has solidified his position in the World Rally Championship standings with a notable victory in Safari Rally Kenya, extending his lead to 36 points. His strategic racing and effective partnership with co-driver Scott Martin were crucial to their success, as demonstrated by their ability to respond effectively to the challenges of the rally. As the championship progresses towards the next round in the Rally Islas Canarias, Evans and his competitors will continue to vie for supremacy.

Original Source: www.bbc.com