Japanese driver has taken a commanding lead heading into the final day of the after dramatic retirements reshaped the leaderboard during Saturday’s punishing stages.
Katsuta, alongside co-driver Aaron Johnston, leads the rally in a Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 with a total time of 2:41:00.2, opening up a 1 minute 25.5 seconds advantage over Hyundai driver and co-driver Alexandre Coria.
The dramatic shift came after long-time rally leader and eight-time world champion both retired on the road section to Saturday’s mid-leg service following mechanical issues after the grueling Sleeping Warrior stage.
Katsuta, who has previously finished second and third in the Safari Rally, now has his sights set on claiming his maiden victory in the iconic African rally.
“Honestly, it’s much easier when you are fighting flat-out everywhere,” Katsuta said. “The penultimate day was tricky and I was just trying to avoid every single rock, even the very small ones.”
Saturday’s stages proved especially punishing for drivers as deteriorating conditions forced the cancellation of the second pass of the Sleeping Warrior stage after the track became nearly impassable following the first run.
and co-driver Marko Salminen of currently sit third overall, more than five minutes behind the leader, but remain in strong position for a podium finish.
Meanwhile, the morning loop proved disastrous for Toyota after retired on the Sleeping Warrior stage due to a damaged rear suspension following a double puncture.
Evans explained the unfortunate end to his rally campaign:
“Unfortunately, we picked up a double puncture at the end of the middle stage of the loop. As we started the next stage, it became obvious the damage from the rocks was more than we expected. At the first braking of the last stage, the rear suspension gave way and that’s where it ended.”
Reigning world champion also endured brutal conditions but managed to climb from sixth to second during one of the toughest stages.
“Wow, what a crazy stage. It was extreme conditions, a real mud bath that caused overheating and clutch issues,” Neuville said, praising his team for repairing the car in service.
Fourmaux, now second overall, acknowledged the unpredictable nature of the rally:
“Safari Rally Kenya is the only place you can lose one minute forty seconds in a stage and still end up on the podium.”
Solberg, who had controlled much of the rally before retiring, reflected on the heartbreak:
“Rallying can be a hard sport sometimes. The car stopped with technical issues on the road section after SS13 and we were forced to retire from the lead.”
Despite the setbacks, Solberg says the team will still target points in the remaining stages.
With four stages remaining on Sunday, the rally remains far from decided. The unforgiving Kenyan terrain around has already claimed several contenders, and any mistake could still change the outcome.
Overall Classification After Day Three
- Katsuta / Johnston – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – 2:41:00.2
- Fourmaux / Coria – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +1:25.5
- Pajari / Salminen – Toyota GR Yaris Rally1 – +5:29.1
- Lappi / Mälkönen – Hyundai i20 N Rally1 – +6:18.5
- Virves / Viilo – Škoda Fabia RS Rally2 – +9:42.1
- Greensmith / Andersson – Toyota GR Yaris Rally2 – +10:37.4
With the final day approaching, all eyes are on whether Katsuta can maintain his advantage and finally secure his first Safari Rally victory.
