Evans keeps WRC lead after Rally Kenya retirements

Elfyn Evans World Rally Championship (WRC) lead has been cut to eight points after a dramatic Safari Rally Kenya, won by Takamoto Katsuta and Irish co-driver Aaron Johnston.

Evans and Toyota team-mates Oliver Solberg and Sebastien Ogier were among a host of Saturday retirements in a rain-hit third round of this year's championship.

All three rejoined the final day's racing, with Solberg picking up one point for 10th place along with a maximum 10 Super Sunday bonuses to boost his overall tally to 58.

Welsh driver Evans, who finished 13th, is on 66 after collecting six Sunday points, while reigning world champion Ogier placed 11th and collected eight.

For 32-year-old Katsuta, also driving for Toyota's Gazoo Racing team, it was his first ever WRC victory in 94 starts.

It was also a first WRC victory for Johnston, who is from Northern Ireland and has been beside the Japanese driver since 2021.

"I don't know what to say," said Katsuta, the first Japanese winner in the championship in 34 years.

"We have had so many difficulties and moments. Aaron has worked very hard to work with me. The team always believed in me when I was failing all the time. I'm here because of them and Aaron."

M-Sport's Jon Armstrong, from Northern Ireland, had a difficult event but completed the rally despite a number of issues.

He lost over 20 minutes on two separate stages with mechanical issues finished 15th in his Ford Puma.

His M-Sport and Motorsport Ireland team-mate Josh McErlean retired from the rally as his frustrating start to the season continued.

He suffered a broken gearbox, a puncture and engine damage across the rally, and the latter issue forced him to retire ahead of the final day.

Evans had been forced to retire after his Toyota Yaris suffered damage in swamp-like conditions on Saturday.

The 37-year-old Welshman had made a promising start on Thursday and was second overall prior to suffering rear-right suspension damage on the punishing 31km 'Sleeping Warrior' stage which also claimed Solberg and Ogier.

Toyota Gazoo Racing's deputy team principal, former WRC champion Juha Kankkunen, said: "The last stage was quite muddy and tough, and the mud went into the engine side and broke the alternators for both of them [Solberg and Ogier].

"Oliver also has a little bit of, let's say, a transmission problem as well, and Elfyn we know already, so it hasn't been the best morning.

"I have been in Kenya so many times that it doesn't surprise me when something like that happens. The conditions have been really tough and the cars should be built for that, but in those muddy conditions it can go everywhere."

1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 66 points

2. Oliver Solberg (Sweden), Toyota, 58

3. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, 55

4. Adrien Fourmaux (France), Hyundai, 47

5. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, 32

6. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 26

5. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 25

Selected

16. Jon Armstrong (Ireland), Ford, 4

19. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 2