Elfyn Evans Wins Rally Kenya, Ott Tänak Takes Second Place

Elfyn Evans won the third round of the World Rally Championship in Kenya, marking his second consecutive victory. Ott Tänak secured second place after early lead, while Thierry Neuville finished third. The WRC2 category saw Gus Greensmith take victory. Evans leads the overall standings with 88 points, with Neuville and Tänak following. The next round will be in the Canary Islands from April 24 to 27.

Elfyn Evans from Toyota secured his second consecutive victory at the third round of the World Rally Championship in Kenya. He finished with a 1 minute and 9.9 seconds lead over Ott Tänak of Hyundai, who secured his first podium of the season after experiencing a setback during the race.

Initially, Tänak led by winning five of the first eight stages, but a driveshaft failure during the ninth stage forced him to drop from first to third place. This opened the opportunity for Evans to take the lead, which he maintained to the finish without needing to push too hard as closest competitor Kalle Rovanperä exited the race due to a suspension failure.

Despite only winning three stages, Evans consistently finished in the top three across 11 stages, demonstrating strong performance. He expressed gratitude, stating his pride in becoming a part of the rally’s history. Meanwhile, Tänak played it safe on Sunday to ensure he finished the rally, ultimately taking second place.

Reigning champion Thierry Neuville of Hyundai finished third, overcoming time penalties incurred on Friday. Additionally, French driver Adrien Fourmaux, representing Hyundai, won the final stage and earned bonus points for his performance,

In the WRC2 category, Gus Greensmith from Skoda finished seventh overall to claim victory, followed by Jan Solans in second and Fabrizio Zaldivar in third. As it stands, Evans leads the WRC standings with 88 points, followed by Neuville and Tänak with 52 and 49 points respectively. Toyota leads in the manufacturers’ standings with 158 points.

The next round of the World Rally Championship will occur in the Canary Islands from April 24 to 27, promising further excitement in the season.

The current drivers’ standings after the Safari Rally Kenya indicate:
1. Elfyn Evans – 88 points
2. Thierry Neuville – 52 points
3. Ott Tänak – 49 points
4. Takamoto Katsuta – 35 points
5. Sébastien Ogier – 33 points
6. Adrien Fourmaux – 33 points
7. Kalle Rovanperä – 31 points
8. Sami Pajari – 19 points
9. Gregoire Munster – 14 points
10. Josh McErlean – 11 points.

Elfyn Evans’ victory in Kenya marks a significant moment in the World Rally Championship, as he not only secured his second consecutive win but also remains the overall leader. Ott Tänak’s solid recovery to second place highlights his capabilities amidst difficulties. As the competition progresses, the next round in the Canary Islands will be crucial for drivers and teams aiming to improve their standings.

Original Source: news.err.ee