Ott Tänak Maintains Second Place in Rally Kenya Ahead of Final Day

Ott Tänak is currently second in Rally Kenya, 1:57.4 behind leader Elfyn Evans. He has improved his standings throughout the season but faced technical issues. The final day of the rally includes five challenging stages, presenting further opportunities for change.

Ott Tänak, driving for Hyundai, currently holds second place in the Rally Safari Kenya, which marks the third round of the 2025 World Rally Championship (WRC) season. He trails the leader, Elfyn Evans from Toyota, by a margin of 1 minute and 57.4 seconds after the completion of 16 stages. Tänak’s performance has shown improvement this season, moving up from fifth position in the Monte Carlo Rally to fourth in Rally Sweden.

The Rally Kenya is characterized by its challenging gravel conditions influenced by the spring rainy season, as well as the stunning wildlife surrounding the course. Despite facing difficulties, including technical issues, Tänak has had notable successes, winning four stages and even leading the event momentarily. However, a broken drive shaft and subsequent tire failure forced him to fall behind Evans.

During the early stages of the rally, Tänak managed to maintain strong performance, although the tricky road conditions on Saturday saw him finishing the morning session second overall. Rovanperä, another competitor from Toyota, faced issues himself, including a puncture that reduced his time advantage over Tänak.

The latter part of the day saw more unpredictability due to rain, complicating the challenges for drivers further. Despite struggling with a defective windshield defroster, which hampered visibility and resulted in time lost, Tänak capitalized on Rovanperä’s misfortunes to secure his second overall position. He concluded the day successfully by clinching the victory in the final stage, outperforming his rivals significantly.

Heading into the last day of racing, Evans, who had exercised caution in the afternoon stages, continues to hold a lead of nearly two minutes over Tänak. Thierry Neuville, also from Hyundai, climbed to third position, while Rovanperä slipped to fifth overall. The final day will consist of five stages covering 65.99 kilometers, with the first stage commencing early in the morning.

In summary, Ott Tänak is poised in second place as Rally Kenya approaches its final day, trailing leader Elfyn Evans by 1:57.4. After navigating multiple challenges, Tänak has dramatically improved his standings while benefiting from competitors’ misfortunes. Evans maintains a solid lead, but with unpredictable conditions ahead, the final day of the rally could yield changes. The upcoming stages will be crucial in determining the overall outcome of this thrilling competition.

Original Source: news.err.ee