Ott Tänak Leads After Thursday’s Stages at Rally Kenya

Ott Tänak leads Rally Kenya after Thursday’s stages, 2.4 seconds ahead of Takamoto Katsuta. Elfyn Evans won the first special stage, with Katsuta and Gregoire Munster following. The top three remain close in the overall standings, as the rally continues on Friday.

The 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season features challenging routes in Kenya this week. After Thursday’s initial speed tests, Estonia’s Ott Tänak, representing Hyundai, is leading by 2.4 seconds, with Takamoto Katsuta from Toyota as his closest competitor.

Elfyn Evans, competing for Toyota, won the first special stage of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya with a time of 3 minutes 09.09 seconds. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) finished jointly in second place, each 1.5 seconds slower than Evans. Tänak finished fourth, trailing the leader by 2.2 seconds.

In the second stage, Tänak clocked the fastest time, securing his lead overall. Katsuta, who was ahead during the first half, ultimately finished second, 1.1 seconds behind. Gregoire Munster from M-Sport Ford placed third, 2.3 seconds adrift.

At the end of Thursday, the top three competitors were Tänak, Katsuta, and Munster, closely followed by last year’s Safari Rally Kenya winner, Rovanperä, who is 3.0 seconds behind Tänak. Rally Kenya will continue on Friday at 6:28 a.m. Estonian time.

Ott Tänak leads the competitive field in Rally Kenya after the opening day of racing in the 2025 WRC season. With fast-paced challenges, the standings indicate close competition among the top drivers, particularly between Tänak and Katsuta. As the rally progresses, these positions may shift, making for an exciting continued event.

Original Source: news.err.ee