Elfyn Evans really made his mark at the Safari Rally Kenya, bringing home a victory on Sunday that has tightened his hold on the FIA World Rally Championship leaderboard. The Toyota GR Yaris Rally1, expertly handled by Evans and co-driver Scott Martin, outpaced Hyundai’s Ott Tänak by an impressive 1 minute and 9.9 seconds. This win marks Evans’ second of the season, placing him firmly in the record books with the largest championship lead ever seen after just three rounds.
Evans came to Africa propelled by a strong start to the season, having won in Sweden and finishing second at Rallye Monte-Carlo. His decisive 36-point lead now stretches the gap significantly between him and the competition after just three of 14 scheduled rallies of the season.
The path to victory was anything but easy, as the drivers took on a grueling four-day route that began in Nairobi and pushed through the tough terrains of Kenya’s Great Rift Valley. As one of the championship’s most scenic yet challenging events, the rally drew a huge crowd, with over 250,000 fans lining the stages, a considerable increase from last year’s 188,000.
Evans seized the lead late on Friday when Tänak suffered a driveshaft mishap with his Hyundai i20 N Rally1. From that point on, Evans took command of the rally. But it wasn’t just a straightforward dash to the finish. He had to conquer a series of setbacks, including tire troubles and spins, plus a persistent electrical issue. Despite Tänak steadily closing the gap during the final stages, Evans held his nerve and joined the ranks of legendary British drivers like Colin McRae and Richard Burns who also triumphed at the Safari.
Tänak shared the podium with reigning world champion Thierry Neuville, who finished third. Neuville’s weekend was peppered with issues, starting with a one-minute penalty for a delayed gearbox change on Friday. More penalties followed for jumping the start and arriving late as he worked to mend his car’s cooling system on Saturday, yet he still managed to secure a spot on the podium, showcasing Hyundai’s strongest performance on the Safari yet.
In contrast, Toyota achieved a personal best with Evans’ victory, but for the first time, they didn’t manage to secure more than one podium finish at this rally. Kalle Rovanperä was on course for a solid second place before rear suspension issues dropped him to fifth on Saturday, with further electrical problems leading to his retirement on Sunday, leaving him 57 points behind Evans.
Takamoto Katsuta seemed set for fourth but was derailed by a roll during the Wolf Power Stage, inadvertently promoting Toyota teammate Sami Pajari to that position. Meanwhile, Grégoire Munster completed the top five despite a gearbox issue in his M-Sport Ford Puma Rally1.
Gus Greensmith emerged victorious in the WRC2, finishing comfortably ahead of Jan Solans, who had an unfortunate rollover incident on SS18. In his return to Safari Rally Kenya, Greensmith, co-driven by Jonas Andersson, captured his first WRC2 win since the same event the previous year—making it a memorable occasion for British rally racing with Evans also topping the Rally1 category.
Greensmith took the lead from the likes of Kajetan Kajetanowicz, who faced challenges with suspension damage. Solans, however, managed to claim victory in the WRC2 Challenger category despite his earlier setbacks. This category is open to competitors who haven’t previously won a WRC title in Rally2 cars or gained manufacturer points.
Paraguay’s Fau Zaldivar celebrated his career-best WRC2 finish of third place, finishing ahead of Daniel Chwist. Oliver Solberg rallied back after early struggles, including being stuck in the sand, to end up in the top five. Kajetan Kajetanowicz capped off the top six, while local star Carl Tundo took the WRC Masters Cup in his Ford Fiesta R5.
Additionally, Nikhil Sachania finished strong in the WRC3, driving a modified Ford Fiesta Rally3 designed for his needs as a paraplegic, winning the class.
Next up for the rally enthusiasts and competitors alike is Rally Islas Canarias, set on the asphalt trails of Gran Canaria, and scheduled from April 24-27. It’s bound to be yet another thrilling round in a season that’s already proving to be one for the history books.
