Evans wins Safari Rally Kenya to extend WRC lead
Elfyn Evans won Safari Rally Kenya to extend his lead after three rounds of the World Rally Championship (WRC) to 36 points.
The 36-year-old Welshman recorded back-to-back victories for the first time, finishing more than a minute ahead of Estonian Ott Tanak.
Hyundai driver Tanak had led the race before breaking a driveshaft on Friday, while Evans' Toyota team-mate Kalle Rovenpera was forced to retire after a string of problems.
"A huge well done to the team, they did a great job and I'm proud to be a very small part of Toyota's history at this special rally," said Evans.
"I want to say thank you to everyone in Kenya for a very warm welcome and an amazing rally."
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Having won Thursday's opening stage and two on Saturday, Evans and co-driver Scott Martin took a lead of just under two minutes into Sunday.
However, given the attritional nature of the rally, the Gazoo Racing duo opted for a safety first approach to the final five stages.
They ceded 47 seconds on the final day but still finished one minute 9.9 seconds ahead of Tanak, with Thierry Neuville a further two minutes 22 seconds adrift.
It meant the Welshman collected only two Sunday points but with 25 for the rally victory it took his total to 88 points, following victory in Sweden last month and runners-up spot in January's season-opening Rallye Monte Carlo.
Last year's championship winner Neuville has moved up from fourth place to second on 52 points, with Tanak up to third with 49.
Northern Ireland's Josh McErlean enjoyed mixed fortunes in the third race of his first WRC season. He lost 29 minutes on Saturday's opening run after breaking a steering arm on his Ford M-Sport Puma.
However, McErlean and co-driver Eoin Treacy went on the deliver their best performance in a Rally1 car with the second-best time on stage 15.
They placed 11th in Kenya, picking up one Super Sunday point to also remain in 11th spot overall.
Round four of the 14 race calendar is the Rally Islas Canarias from 24-27 April.
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 4 hours 20 minutes 3.8 seconds
2. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, +1min 09.9secs
3. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, +3mins 32.0secs
4. Sami Pajari (Finland), Toyota, +7mins 18.7secs
5. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota, +8mins 15.7secs
6 Gregoire Munster (Luxembourg), Ford, +11mins 35.3secs
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, +37mins 15.8secs
1. Elfyn Evans (Great Britain), Toyota, 88 points
2. Thierry Neuville (Belgium), Hyundai, 52
3. Ott Tanak (Estonia), Hyundai, 49
4. Takamoto Katsuta (Japan), Toyota 35
5. Sebastien Ogier (France), Toyota, 33
6. Kalle Rovanpera (Finland), Toyota, 31
11. Josh McErlean (Ireland), Ford, 7
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