Ott Tänak in Command After Thursday’s Racing at Rally Kenya

Ott Tänak leads the Rally Kenya after Thursday’s stages, 2.4 seconds ahead of Takamoto Katsuta. Elfyn Evans won the initial special stage, followed closely by Kalle Rovanperä and Thierry Neuville. Tänak took the lead in the second stage, with Katsuta remaining a strong competitor. Rally Kenya continues on Friday, with heightened competition expected among the top drivers.

The 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season is progressing in Kenya, with Ott Tänak from Estonia currently in the lead following Thursday’s races. He has established a 2.4-second advantage over his nearest competitor, Takamoto Katsuta of Toyota.

In the opening special stage of the WRC Safari Rally Kenya, Elfyn Evans (Toyota) claimed victory with a time of 3 minutes 09.09 seconds. Kalle Rovanperä (Toyota) and Thierry Neuville (Hyundai) finished joint second, trailing Evans by 1.5 seconds. Tänak positioned himself fourth, 2.2 seconds behind the leader after the initial stage.

However, Tänak rebounded by posting the fastest time on the second stage, enabling him to seize the overall lead. Katsuta put forth a strong challenge, initially surpassing Tänak at the halfway mark but ultimately finished second, 1.1 seconds behind. Gregoire Munster from M-Sport Ford secured third place, 2.3 seconds adrift.

As a result, Tänak, Katsuta, and Munster maintain the top positions in the overall standings, with Katsuta trailing Tänak by 2.4 seconds and Munster by 2.6 seconds. Kalle Rovanperä, the previous year’s Safari Rally Kenya victor, follows closely behind in fourth, 3.0 seconds off the lead.

The next stage of Rally Kenya is scheduled to commence on Friday at 6:28 a.m. Estonian time.

In conclusion, Ott Tänak leads the Rally Kenya after Thursday, holding a slender margin over Takamoto Katsuta and Gregoire Munster. The competition intensifies as the season unfolds, with Tänak demonstrating resilience and competitive spirit. The next stage promises to further challenge all contenders, maintaining interest in this thrilling WRC season.

Original Source: news.err.ee