Elfyn Evans Triumphs in Rally Kenya; Ott Tänak Seizes Season’s First Podium
Elfyn Evans won Rally Kenya, marking his second consecutive victory; Ott Tänak secured his first podium of the season by finishing second after early stage success; Kalle Rovanperä’s suspension failure impacted the race results; Evans remains the overall leader in WRC standings.
Elfyn Evans secured victory in the third round of the World Rally Championship in Kenya, marking his second consecutive triumph. Estonian driver Ott Tänak, representing Hyundai, finished in second place, trailing Evans by 1 minute and 9.9 seconds. Tänak’s impressive performance included winning five of the initial eight stages but suffered a setback due to a driveshaft failure that dropped him from first to third position.
Evans capitalized on Tänak’s misfortune on Friday’s ninth stage and maintained his lead through the remainder of the rally. With the withdrawal of Kalle Rovanperä due to a suspension failure, Evans did not need to exert excessive pressure over the final days. Although he only secured victories in three stages overall, he consistently ranked among the top three.
Upon his victory, Evans expressed gratitude, stating, “I want to thank all the Kenyan people for their warm welcome. An incredible rally! I’m very proud to now be a small part of this special rally’s history.” Following the obstacles faced by competitors, Ott Tänak reclaimed second place and focused on completing the rally, while defending champion Thierry Neuville took third after dealing with time penalties.
French driver Adrien Fourmaux from Hyundai won the Sunday stage and received five bonus points for his efforts, with Tänak finishing third on that stage. The power stage was led by Fourmaux, followed closely by Neuville and Tänak.
In the WRC2 category, Gus Greensmith celebrated a victory, securing seventh overall, while Jan Solans and Fabrizio Zaldivar took second and third place, respectively. Currently leading the overall WRC standings is Elfyn Evans with 88 points, followed by Neuville and Tänak with 52 and 49 points. The next round will occur in the Canary Islands from April 24 to 27.
In conclusion, Elfyn Evans achieved a commendable victory in Rally Kenya, while Ott Tänak marked his season’s first podium finish. The event saw key moments and challenges, including Tänak’s temporary lead and the unfortunate exit of Rovanperä. The standings reflect a competitive season ahead, particularly with a lead established by Evans and upcoming races on the horizon.
Original Source: news.err.ee
