P1racenews AI automatic summary:
WRC Safari Rally: Rovanpera preserves lead as Hyundai hits more trouble
After building a sizeable lead through Friday and Saturday, Toyota’s Rovanpera maintained a 1m53.5s rally lead over team-mate Takamoto Katsuta, with M-Sport-Ford’s Adrien Fourmaux in third [+2m57.4s]. Evans held fourth position [+4m51.1s], closely trailing Tanak in the Sunday classification, where up to seven points are available for the fastest driver. Neuville, in fifth overall, suffered a rear suspension damage after a collision with a rock, dropping to third in the Sunday standing behind Tanak. Hyundai executed a Super Sunday strategy with Neuville, Tanak, and Lappi attacking in the first stage to regain valuable championship points. Neuville’s aggressive approach paid off with the fastest time in the rocky Malewa stage. Tanak trailed Neuville by 4.7s, noting the challenging conditions, while Lappi faced another setback with a right-rear tyre off the rim. Evans, sitting fourth overall, expressed surprise at Hyundai’s pace in the rough conditions, with Katsuta ending the stage with a front-left puncture, calling it a “lottery stage.” Fourmaux and rally leader Rovanpera took a cautious approach, finishing sixth and seventh behind M-Sport’s Gregoire Munster after suspension issues on Saturday. Stage 15 [Oserian, 18.33km] saw Evans win the stage, moving to third in the Super Sunday classification, with Toyota’s Rovanpera leading. The final stage brought drama for Hyundai as Lappi encountered transmission problems, and Tanak lost time to a spin, avoiding obstacles.
