Katsuta in lead after several retirements

Takamoto Katsuta has been close to win a lot of rallies, not at least Sweden in the last two years. Now he has the chance with just four stages to go in Kenya. Photo: Fredrik Sundvall / FotoINorr

Saturday with the stage Sleeping warrior was crucial to some of the drivers. Elfvyn Evans had to retire from his second place when he got a problem with his rear right suspension. This gave Oliver Solberg a lead with 42,6 seconds over Sebastien Ogier, new runner-up. But despite both cars completing the stage, both cars had to retire from the road section due to mud in the engine. Solberg also had issues with his transmission.
With all top three cars retired from the same stage, Takamoto Katsuta was the new leader ahead of the afternoon loop, a lead he could keep all the stages. Luckily for Katsuta, and perhaps the remaining drivers, the second loop of the Sleeping warrior was cancelled.
Toyota wasn’t the only team facing troubles during the day. Hyundais driver Thierry Neuville got three punctures on Soysambu stage, and had to retire from the day as well.
This leaves it to four drivers able to take podium spots, leader Takamoto Katsuta, runner-up Adrien Fourmaux, 85 seconds behind followed by a pair of Finns, Sami Pajari, almost 5 and a half minutes after Katsuta, and Esapekka Lappi, 50 seconds after Pajari. There will be some drama on sunday still, there are points to claim from the Super sunday and the Powerstage…

Standings after saturday:
1) Takamoto Katsuta, Toyota
2) Adrien Fourmaux, Hyundai, +1,25.5
3) Sami Pajari, Toyota, +5,29.1
4) Esapekka Lappi, Toyota, 6,18.5
5) Robert Virves, Skoda*, +9,42.1
6) Gus Greensmith, Toyota* +10,37.4
7) Fabrizio Zaldivar, Skoda*, +10,43.8
8) Andreas Mikkelsen, Skoda*, +11,24.4
9) Diego Dominguez, Toyota*, +11,57.8
10) Oliver Solberg, Toyota, +18,21.0

Written by: Christian Flodin