2025 Safari Rally Kenya – Friday report
FIA World Rally Championship (WRC) chief Elfyn Evans led Safari Rally Kenya after a dramatic and attritional Friday leg, as frontrunner Ott Tänak fell foul of mechanical issues late within the day.
In true Safari style, few crews emerged unscathed from the rally’s first full day, which featured eight brutal gravel pace exams throughout the Nice Rift Valley. Over half the Rally1 area suffered points – a stark reminder of the rally’s unforgiving nature.
Tänak had seemed unstoppable early on, storming to 4 stage wins and opening up a lead of almost one minute. However catastrophe struck within the afternoon when a driveshaft failure left his Hyundai i20 N Rally1 with solely rear-wheel drive. The Estonian haemorrhaged time throughout the ultimate two exams, dropping to 3rd total with an in a single day deficit of 55.4sec.
That opened the door for Toyota GAZOO Racing’s Evans, who steadily climbed the order in his GR Yaris Rally1 with a clear and constant efficiency – regardless of not setting a single quickest time.
The Welshman, who arrived in Kenya with a 28-point championship lead, ended the day with a slender buffer over team-mate Kalle Rovanperä – a rear-right tyre deflation close to the end of the ultimate stage being his solely notable scare.
Rovanperä was simply 7.7sec adrift in second and may need been main himself however for a spin on a very slender part of the Kedong stage, which noticed him lose time making an attempt to get his automotive pointed in the precise route. Apart from that mishap, the Finn additionally loved a comparatively drama-free day.
“It has been a tough day and we have erred on the aspect of warning,” mentioned Evans. “Clearly some guys have had bother, which is unlucky, nevertheless it’s a part of the Safari. It’s kind of irritating typically since you really feel like you possibly can take a bit extra danger and go a bit quicker, however I preserve reminding myself the place we’re.
“It’s a disgrace for Ott, clearly, to have a mechanical [failure] like that. You by no means know on this sport if it’s as a result of the automotive has had an affect or if it’s simply a regular failure, nevertheless it’s a disgrace for him as a result of he was going nicely.”
Tänak wasn’t the one Hyundai driver to hit bother. Reigning champion Thierry Neuville’s day started with a one-minute penalty after his i20 N was delayed leaving service attributable to a gearbox change. Extra points adopted – together with a leap begin (+10sec), a debeaded tyre, and an extra 50sec penalty for lateness to SS8 after one other technical glitch. Regardless of the setbacks, Neuville reached the in a single day halt in fourth, 36.0sec behind Tänak.
Adrien Fourmaux, who had rejoined underneath restart guidelines following {an electrical} concern on Thursday, retired once more when a front-right steering arm broke on SS7. The Frenchman had been nursing a puncture and drove nearly 10 kilometres with the flailing tyre earlier than the suspension lastly gave manner.
It wasn’t a easy experience for Toyota’s Takamoto Katsuta both. Tyre harm early within the day put him out of competition, and an identical concern within the Geothermal check value extra time. He ended Friday fifth total, greater than 4 minutes off the lead.
Simply behind was team-mate Sami Pajari, additionally delayed by tyre woes, whereas seventh-placed Josh McErlean led M-Sport Ford’s cost after an eventful afternoon. The Irishman battled by means of issues that included a squashed exhaust and a boot flooring punctured by a free spare wheel.
WRC2 chief Kajetan Kajetanowicz sat eighth total after seizing the highest spot from Oliver Solberg -Toyota GR Yaris), who acquired caught in a deep part of fesh-fesh on SS7. The Pole, driving a Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 for the primary time, held a slender benefit over class rivals Gus Greensmith (Škoda Fabia RS) and Jan Solans (Toyota GR Yaris).
Saturday’s leg brings one other six gruelling exams masking 146.50km.
